SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio — The Bike Club at Shaker Heights High School means a lot to the students involved.
"It's a bunch of high school students who like fixing bikes," Cormack Bernard, a student involved in the club, said.
The bikes the students are repairing mean a lot more to the people who receive them.
"We fix them and send them out into the world to help people," Bernard said.
The young mechanics are under the guidance of Shaker Heights High School chemistry and physics teacher Bill Scanlon.
His love of bikes and passion for community service inspired the creation of the student organization.
"I thought if I could create something where I'm teaching kids how to work on bikes, how to fix bikes, give them some skills, and also help by giving bikes away to people that need them," Scanlon said. "That would be killing two birds with one stone."
It seems like Scanlon has. The club has repaired 30 bikes since it started three years ago.
Students meet each week and repair bikes that range from excellent to those that have seen better days. Adult and children's bikes have gone to two places: The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants and the University Settlement community center.
"It's great to learn how to fix bikes and then give them out to people and see their reactions and see how happy they are," student Johnathan Bailey-Jenkins said. "They'll be able to use what we built together."
Local businesses and community members have donated bikes to the club, but donations are currently closed as the club tries to catch up with demand.
"I have a list of people who have said they want to donate bikes," Scanlon said. "I said as soon as I have space, I'm calling you."
Scanlon said the overflow of bikes speaks to the club's power.
As students like Bernard and Bailey-Jenkins prepare to graduate, Scanlon hopes they leave the school and the club with a better understanding of the impact of giving back.
"If there are more people out there that are taking care of each other and helping each other out," Scanlon said. "The better this world is going to be. That's why I get excited to see these kids come in with smiles on their faces, wanting to take care of people."
