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Two 14-year-old girls smiled as they pedaled their new bikes Thursday afternoon.

Alejandra Gonzalez and Lluvia Cano had bikes as 10-year-olds living in Mexico but not since they moved to the United States.

They were recipients of refurbished bicycles as part of the Giving Bikes Back program, a collaboration of Home ReSource and Wheels Bike Shop to provide bikes to children and adults who may not otherwise be able to afford them.

The program began last year when workers at Home ReSource noticed several usable bikes at the Milner Landfill, said Rich Levy, vice president of the Community Alliance of Yampa Valley, the fiscal sponsor for Home ReSource.

Chris Johns, owner of Wheels, said Home ReSource approached him with the idea of fixing up the bikes so they could be donated to people in need.

Johns agreed. He said Giving Bikes Back is a feel-good program and a way for him to help out.

"It's something that's needed in the community," he said. "This is a community that's been really good to me. It's a way for me to give back to the community that gave back to me in the past."

The program was supported last year by a $4,400 grant from Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. that allowed it to pay for bicycle parts and repair costs. Levy said a $500 grant from SmartWool would continue to support the program this year.

And Giving Bikes Back was assisted by a number of volunteers, who showed up to two fix-up days held last year and in May, Johns said.

Stacy Weinberg, salvage yard manager for Home ReSource, said more than 80 bikes have been distributed to area nonprofit groups and human service organizations since the program began two years ago.

They include the Boys & Girls Club of Craig, Community Cultivation, North Routt Preschool, Routt County Department of Human Services, Holy Name Catholic Church, Horizons Specialized Services, Perry Mansfield, LIFT-UP of Routt County and the United Way of Routt County.

Alejandra and Lluvia expressed interest in receiving bikes from the program after reading about it in a Partners of Routt County newsletter, case manager Erin Murphy said.

Alejandra, who lives in Hayden, said she wanted a bike to be able to ride with her aunt. Lluvia, who lives in Steamboat Springs, said she wanted a bike to ride downtown in the summer and maybe even to school.

Murphy said the two girls, having been a part of the Partners program, qualified for Giving Bikes Back.

"So many of the kids we serve just don't have the resources (to buy a bike)," said Murphy, who added that many of their families' resources are dedicated to more practical spending. "This gives them a chance to try cycling, especially in a town where cycling is so huge.

"This is the best part of my job," she added. "I love it."

Levy said the program has exceeded the Community Alliance of Yampa Valley and Home ReSource's expectations.

"It's been great," he said. "We hope it goes on forever. Getting people out of the their cars and onto bikes is good for the community, good for the environment."

Weinberg said because of the program's success, they're out of bikes to donate.

"We really need those donations to keep coming in," she said.

Donations to the Giving Bikes Back program are accepted at Home ReSource, about a mile past Milner on Routt County Road 205; and Wheels, next to Snow Bowl off U.S. Highway 40. For more information, visit Home ReSource's Web site at http://salvageit.org, call 879-6985 or e-mail staff@salvageit.org.