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Got an old bicycle?

If you're thinking of tossing it, think again.

The "Giving Bikes Back" program is hosting an event from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 3 at Wheels Bicycles to collect bicycles and bicycle parts. During the event, employees from Wheels and Orange Peel Bicycle Service will repair bikes to be donated to children and adults who may not otherwise be able to afford them. A free barbecue will follow the event.

The program began last year after Home ReSource, a nonprofit salvage operation that also diverts usable materials from the Milner Landfill, and the Community Alliance of the Yampa Valley saw an opportunity.

"We just saw that we had a large collection of bikes in really good shape," said Jolie Lemoine, recycling coordinator for Home ReSource and organizer of the bike program. "We're trying to do more landfill diversion to keep things out of landfills. This is kind of a fun way to do that, and rewarding."

She said Home ReSource diverted about 30 bikes from the landfill and contacted area bike shops to see if they would be interested in fixing them up for donation.

"We thought it was an excellent idea," Wheels owner Chris Johns said.

He said last year's event drew more than 15 volunteers who helped shop employees repair the bikes.

"People come out of the woodwork when there's a program like this," he said. "A lot of people in this town have big hearts."

Johns said last summer's event was such a success that Wheels continued to collect bikes that residents dropped off throughout the year. Wheels then donated them to Routt County United Way last Christmas Eve.

The Giving Bikes Back program relied solely on donations last year, but to pay for the parts to fix the bikes this year, Home ReSource received a $4,400 grant from Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp.

If any of the grant funding remains, Lemoine said Home ReSource will build a structure where the bikes could be stored year-round, allowing for donations any time of the year.

Including donations from residents, Johns said about 50 bikes were donated to area organizations in 2008, and he hopes this year's number approaches 100.

Partners in Routt County, a youth mentoring organization, received about five of those bikes last year. Other organizations that received donated bikes included LIFT-UP of Routt County and the Boys & Girls Club of Craig.

Erin Murphy, a case manager with Partners, said the bikes were distributed to children who couldn't afford to buy them.

With summer quickly approaching, Partners looks forward to getting more bikes, she said. Murphy said Partners should have no problem distributing any bikes it receives.

"We rely on community organizations like this to give extra benefits to kids and families we work with," she said. "We're a small town. Organizations here support each other in that way."

For more information about the Giving Bikes Back program or to make a donation, call 970-846-3638 or e-mail staff@salvageit.org.