Doing Well By Doing Good: A Creative Holiday Effort Benefits Kids in San Mateo County

On December 3, more than 800 volunteers gathered at the San Jose Convention Center’s South Hall, carrying Allen wrenches, screwdrivers, wire cutters and tire pumps.  Five hours later, more than 2,500 bicycles in all sizes had been assembled, inspected, and loaded onto U-Haul trucks to be distributed to low-income children throughout San Mateo County.  It was Turning Wheels for Kids’ annual Big Bike Build – and San Mateo County Department of Child Support Services (SM DCSS) was there to help give back.

SM DCSS Child Support Supervisor David Carlos has volunteered at this event for three years and this year he invited SM DCSS’ Wellness Committee to participate. 

“Volunteering helps people feel better about themselves,” Carlos said. “I thought it was a good idea for our Wellness Committee to support.” 

Turning Wheels for Kids is a non-profit that provides children with brand-new bicycles through several partnerships that support low-income families and address childhood obesity.  The goal is not only to provide a big present that every child wants, but also to encourage lifelong habits of exercise, outdoor activity and independence.

When David called Turning Wheels for Kids to register the SM DCSS team, he spoke with a staff member who contacted him later to offer DCSS thirteen new bikes to donate.  A local company had just held a Turning Wheels Bike Build as a team-building exercise for employees and the bikes built that day needed a home.  David promptly accepted and presented the bikes to the San Mateo County


Director Cagno and her son
with a finished bike

Children’s Fund, a charitable organization that partners with SM DCSS.  That was all it took for enthusiasm for the project to take hold.
Ten SM DCSS staff members showed up that Saturday morning ready to build, including Director Kim Cagno, who brought her 15-year-old son along. 

“I thought it would be a good mother-son bonding experience,” she recalled.  Her son thoroughly enjoyed himself, although he teased his mother about her lack of mechanical skill: “In five minutes it was ‘Mom, just stay away from the bike.’” 

During the Bike Build, volunteers open boxes of bike parts and assemble the bikes using hand tools. The finished bikes are then inspected to ensure correct assembly and sturdy joints. Director Cagno’s son alone built five bicycles that morning.

“It is such important work, and so much fun to do,” Director Cagno enthused. “It is a great holiday experience and a really great way for our team to give back.”

The San Mateo County Children’s Fund – already a recipient of SM DCSS’ annual Toy Drive and now of thirteen brand new bikes – is hoping to receive more bicycles from Turning Wheels for Kids next year as the organization works with several non-profits to distribute newly-built bikes. 

If you are interested in supporting low-income families and bringing kids back outdoors to active play, visit www.turningwheelsforkids.org.  As for David, Kim and the rest of the SM DCSS team, they are hoping they can volunteer again next year. In 2016, the Big Bike Build registration closed in just 45 minutes, so future teams may have to make a donation in order to join the fun.  That’s great news for a very worthy effort!

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Nicole Darracq
Information Officer II
CA Department of Child Support Services