Thursday, December 27, 2007
By Mary Niederberger, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Somewhere out there are dozens of kids whose lives will be made brighter in the New Year because of the efforts of William Thomas, of Castle Shannon.

Mr. Thomas, 81, a regular volunteer at St. Clair Hospital in Mt. Lebanon and the Jubilee Kitchen in the Hill District, has spent the past five years rehabilitating a total of 603 bicycles for distribution to underprivileged children.

Last week, he received a proclamation from Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl for the 254 bikes he recycled this year, a number of which went to The Bike Before Christmas program coordinated by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Kraynick’s Bike Shop in Garfield.

The children who got bikes for this Christmas join the legions who have received bikes through Mr. Thomas’s efforts since he started in 2003.

A retired electrical engineer who used to help to build power plants all over the world, Mr. Thomas said he started to recycle bikes as a way to keep himself “from going completely bananas” in retirement.

At St. Clair Hospital, where he has put in nearly 6,000 volunteer hours, he posted a sign near the cafeteria asking people to donate old bikes. He’s gotten donations from individuals at the hospital and he received a donation of 25-30 abandoned bikes from the Mt. Lebanon police department.

He also purchases old, damaged bikes for $1 a piece at the Goodwill store on Route 51. He repairs them with used parts that he buys at bike stores around the area including Kraynick’s, which co-sponsors the Pittsburgh Police effort.

The first year, 2003, he repaired 35 bikes, adding more each year. This year’s total of 254 is the highest yet.

“I’m fair at this. Well, maybe I’m pretty good at it. I’ve never had a bike that I gave up on. No matter what condition the bikes are in that people give me, somehow I’m able to repair them,” Mr. Thomas said.

He does all of the work in his one-bedroom apartment. This week, he had eight bikes in various stages of repair there. “It’s OK, I still have room to get in and out of bed,” he joked.

His work with The Bike Before Christmas program is limited to November and December, which is when the police accept donations at their stations.

The rest of the year, he gives his recycled bikes to folks at the Jubilee Kitchen, who distribute them to needy children.

“He is a Santa Claus all year,” said Georgianne Williams, director of volunteer services at St. Clair Hospital, who accompanied Mr. Thomas when he received his proclamation from the mayor.

Mr. Thomas said he’s never met any of the children who get his bikes. “But I know this has to be good for them — to get out and get some exercise rather than sitting around and watching television all day,” Mr. Thomas said.

He’s gotten used to people commending him for his efforts, but he said, he has “an ulterior motive” for his good deeds: “I’m trying to get into Heaven.”
Mary Niederberger can be reached at mniederberger@post-gazette.com or 412-851-1512.