Hollywood : YMCA Asks for Bicycles

The Hollywood YMCA is asking for the public’s help in replacing $10,000 worth of bicycles and equipment destroyed in a Malibu fire last month.

The bicycles, tools and helmets would have been used in the Hollywood Y’s Adventure Trails program, which exposes inner-city children to nature in the Santa Monica Mountains.

“We have these mountains that ring our entire city, and a lot of these kids can see them in the distance but that’s about it,” said Larry Shaw, director of the Hollywood YMCA Counseling Center.

Each year between 45 and 50 groups and agencies, such as Youth Gang Services and the Boys and Girls Club of Venice, bring at-risk and developmentally disabled young people to participate in the program.

Thousands of children, many of whom have never seen more than a few trees in their neighborhoods, have gone on the bike rides, Shaw said.

A loss of funding last year forced the program to shut down, but with a grant from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and a private donation the program was due to start again this month.

The fire has left the Hollywood YMCA uncertain if it can resume the rides this year.

One organization, the Kiwanis Club of Hollywood, has pledged three bicycles to the group, but much more is needed.

“We still have 20 bikes to go, and a storage shed and helmets and a lot of equipment,” Shaw said.

At least $10,000 is needed to get the program on its feet again.

The YMCA is asking bicycle shops, corporations, businesses and individuals to make tax-deductible donations of money or equipment.

If the program does not receive enough donations to start by the end of the year, it will have to return the grant money.