The following is a press release from Golden Hills School re: its partnership with our club on November 25 for a school-wide bicycle and bike parts collection. Our members transported the donated items to Folsom State Prison where inmates will refurbish the bicycles. Once completed, the bikes will be picked up and donated to adults and children in our and several other communities:
"Golden Hills School Students Give Back During Annual B.L.A.S.T. (Bringing Leadership and Service Together) Day"
Golden Hills School, located in El Dorado Hills, is a fully accredited, private, non-profit school serving Junior Kindergarten through 8th grade. GHS is proud to continue its tradition of combining academic excellence with character development, social-emotional growth, and physical wellness. Each year, the entire GHS community participates in B.L.A.S.T. Service Day, which stands for Bringing Learning and Service Together. This schoolwide initiative engages students in meaningful acts of service throughout the local community.
“BLAST educates our students about areas of need in the local community and how they can help make a difference,” said Dr. Kimberly Waite, Head of School.
This year, GHS teachers, Shanna Schifferle and Jana Britt, and their 2nd and 3rd grade students partnered with the Cameron Park Rotary Club for a schoolwide bike collection. The Rotary’s well-known Bike Program, Pedal-it-Forward, collaborates with local organizations to rescue bicycles from landfills, provide mechanic training to inmates, and donate refurbished bikes to children and refugees. Thanks to the generosity of the GHS community, students collected 26 bicycles, along with bike parts and materials needed for repairs. Families further supported the effort by distributing flyers throughout the community.
This hands-on project not only supported a valuable local initiative but also gave students a tangible experience in service learning—highlighting how teamwork and compassion can make a real difference, one bike at a time.
Throughout the day, GHS students also participated in a wide range of service activities across the community, reinforcing the school’s commitment to developing engaged, responsible, and empathetic young citizens.