Summer camp kids get new bikes

HAMILTON, N.J. – Earlier this month, Brenda Cusack, grandmother of two children at the CYO Summer Camp at the Hamilton Bromley Neighborhood Civic Center was patiently waiting to know why she was asked to be there at Bromley Center.

“I am here to support my grandkids. They told me to come and my daughter checked to see if I am here, and I am. I come to find out what’s going on. That’s the way it should be. They said come, so I am here,” said Cusack.

Parents and children were in for a big surprise.

More than 50 children and their parents at the CYO Summer Camp at the Bromley Center got a big surprise when camp staff unveiled a nearly $7k effort of 55 brand new bikes with bells and helmets that were sitting under tents outside for each kid.

Several local businesses in the Hamilton area such as Shop Hamilton, Shine and Inspire, Doctors Express, Mixbin Electronics LLC, and others made the purchase and donation of the bikes possible.

CEO and Founder or Mixbin, Cory Zeitzer, said his company that is located across the street in the Studio Park buildings, raised the funds to purchase half of the bikes.

“We decided to donate half the bikes for this event for all the kids to enjoy themselves for the summer, and we hope to continue doing donations to the Bromley Center for the rest of the year and for many years to come,” said Zeitzer.

The idea for the bikes came about when the executive director of the non-profit organization, Shine and Inspire, Inc., Carol Feldman, said she bought two bikes for kids at a summer party last year and then decided she wanted to buy all the kids bikes.

“Shine and Inspire is based on the premise of ‘paying it forward,’” explains Feldman. “And that is exactly what this effort was all about.”

Feldman thought the idea of the bicycles was a great idea because many of the children do not own one.

She brought her idea to Shop Hamilton and other local businesses that made that mission possible where they were able to purchase the 55 bicycles from a Hamilton-based, local business — Economy Bicycle & Skateboard Shop.

“Time and time again, the members of Shop Hamilton have given back to our community in so many ways. This charitable project, thanks to the idea of Carol Feldman and support from our members, shows exactly what Shop Hamilton is all about,” states Joyce Cantalice, Chairperson of Shop Hamilton.

Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede was present for the children and their parents’ bikes donation surprise.

She said, “This effort illustrates the very best of our community. The generosity of our local businesses and the compassion of our local non-profit organizations never cease to amaze me. Thanks to their combined efforts, today was a very special day for our Bromley summer campers.”

CYO of Mercer County Executive Director, Thomas Mladenetz, also praised the efforts of those involved with the Bromley Center and the bikes surprise.

“We are grateful to the continued support we receive from Mayor Yaede and the Township Council; and we cannot thank Shop Hamilton, Shine and Inspire, and Doctors Express enough for their generosity,” said Mladenetz.