HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — As part of a special holiday surprise, 85 students at a Hartford elementary school have received new bikes.
It all started with a bike build workshop on Thursday evening. Mike Trinh and his wife, Joete, own local businesses Trinh Law and Common Good Home Buyers. The family partnered with the nonprofit Can’d Aid, which provides tools for under-resourced communities. Together, the built 85 black and red shiny, new bikes.
“We’ve been blessed and fortunate to through our businesses to give back to the local community,” Joete Trinh said.
Over the last 11 years, Can’d Aid has donated nearly 13,000 bikes to underprivileged students.
“A lot of these kids don’t have the same opportunities, so being able to be a conduit to help get them into cycling and just a positive trajectory in their life, it’s super rewarding,” said Jeff Lenosky, who is a treads and trails ambassador for the nonprofit.
Second graders at Maria Sanchez Elementary School in Hartford had no idea Friday that they were about to get 85 of the newly built bikes. According to Principal Evelyn Mendoza-Overton, many of the the children are low-income.
“For some of our students, this might be their first bike,” she said.
The students thought they were brought to the gymnasium for a bike show and educational bike safety assembly hosted by Can’d Aid, until the big reveal at the end.
Taken by surprise, many children screamed and danced as they received the new bikes. One boy told News 8 it was his very first gift.
For more information on Can’d Aid, you can visit candaid.org
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