All posts by Michael Sabrio

President’s Message, Spring 2025

June 24, 2025 Michael Sabrio

Dear Pedal People,

First and foremost, I’d like to thank you for being here on our website, reading our news, showing your support. This newsletter is our way of showing you the progress we’ve made in the first half of the year, shipping the donated bicycles and sewing machines we’ve collected in the tri-state region. Thank you for taking a moment to read about the work you have allowed us to do.

We’ve had a really awesome spring season that honestly surprised me with its results. Heading into spring, I was white-knuckling it unsure of how well we’d do, or what world events might come up that could jeopardize our work. Coming off the heels of the longshoremen’s strike in the fall, we thought the shipping world couldn’t get any tougher. Then came tariffs.

I’m not here to comment on or critique them, other than to say they have affected our operations. The shipping industry is clutching its pearls and has slowed down significantly due to the large number of unknowns in the world. Working under tight time constraints, balancing a small warehouse, and organizing volunteers becomes much harder when the world is at odds with us. Big problems like these leave big strains on small operations like ours.

While there have been more challenges getting our bicycles out the door, we’ve managed to weather the storm thanks to your support. I was blown away by our donors once we started our spring season. In these polarizing times, I was unsure how the public would respond to our cause this spring. Thankfully, it’s become clear to me that Americans remain united and ready to help their neighbors.

While the news and media seem ever more divided and discombobulated, the experiences I’ve had on the ground are filled with amazing community efforts. The words of encouragement we’ve received this spring have been deeply moving. People are rooting for us to continue serving our neighbors abroad, with a sense of sincerity I’ve never felt before. This support and the stories I’ve heard from our friends overseas have helped me tremendously to keep going.

I hope the following stories motivate you to keep going too. They shine a light on dark corners of the world that are full of love once discovered. Belize holds the title for some of the toughest living conditions in the world, with the lowest GDP in Central America. Kosovo is a nation marching for recognition, overshadowed by other complicated European politics. Sierra Leone and Togo have been placed on travel bans, while posing no threat to the U.S. Wire transfers from Albania and Guatemala are still flagged by our banks. And yet, these are all countries fighting for their voices to be heard. These are all countries we proudly support.

We hope this newsletter shows you why it’s worth standing behind our friends around the world. Rallying around the simple symbol of freedom a bicycle represents can be a guiding force in how we live our lives. Thank you for supporting our world through the gift of donating a bicycle, giving people the freedom they deserve.

Sincerely, Alan Schultz, President P4P and SP

bicycles, Guatemala, Sewing Partners

Report from Guatemala, Spring 2025

June 24, 2025 Michael Sabrio

Spring 2025 Newsletter

For the last 25 years, Pedals for Progress has made annual shipments of bikes and sewing machines to FIDESMA, a community outreach program located just outside Chimaltenango, Guatemala. FIDESMA serves its community of San Andrés Itzapa through various programs focused on food security, educational support, and women’s empowerment in business.

Using their EcoBici program, they extend their community impact through the distribution and sale of our donated bicycles. FIDESMA and its EcoBici bike shop have sustained themselves for 25 years and serve as a textbook example of what Pedals for Progress aims to achieve. By selling some of their bikes at low cost, our partners help generate revenue to maintain their operations and fund their community outreach.

Working people who buy these bicycles have a vested interest in maintaining them. This not only promotes long-term use, but also feeds back into the success of the shop, which hires more people and helps develop specialized labor. The economic success of this small enterprise is how we’ve been able to contribute to the local economy of Chimaltenango while supporting FIDESMA’s broader mission.

FIDESMA’s current inventory includes many bikes we shipped back in October. The range of bicycles we collect in the U.S. ends up being a major selling point once they reach our international partners. From vintage Schwinns from the ’70s and ’80s to modern Trek mountain bikes, the variety helps shops like EcoBici serve a diverse customer base. This range is on full display at EcoBici, where bikes are organized by price category: older Schwinns ranging from $30–$50, mid-level Mongooses and Treks priced between $50–$100+, and even a top-shelf Specialized model tagged at $800. It’s a great example of a healthy storefront offering a fair, tiered marketplace.

This all ties back to the “theory” behind Pedals for Progress. We want our partners to succeed and earn a living through our donated bicycles. We are extending the life and value of products that hold real significance in smaller marketplaces like San Andrés Itzapa. Fanning the flame of a blossoming economy is how we can accelerate progress and stretch the impact of bicycles once headed for a landfill. We’re proud to stand beside partners like FIDESMA who take our mission to heart. Here’s to 25 years of impact—and many more to come.

Women’s Group and Bike Donation

The auxiliary programs we support in the developing world are often funded through the sale of bicycles we ship. In many places here in the United States, other charities that collect used bicycles will sell a large portion domestically to help offset their operating costs. At Pedals for Progress, we pass that same opportunity on to our partners overseas. We want our partners to benefit from the sale of bikes in their local markets, using that income to fund community outreach and development work where it’s needed most. As a result, we’re proud to say that P4P donates 100% of the new and repairable bikes we collect.

For lack of a better term, a kind of “trickle-down” economy begins to take shape. While our partner bike shops generate revenue, they are also running a local business and using their extra funds to support their communities. FIDESMA in Guatemala continues to be an incredible example: several of their offshoot programs provide aid through feeding programs, bicycle donations, and support for indigenous women.

During my visit to FIDESMA, I spoke with some of the main people behind their work. It’s mostly a family-run operation, and they welcomed us like family. Pedro, the son of Margarita, FIDESMA’s founder, said very simply, “In San Andrés Itzapa, FIDESMA is famous for helping.” They’re the place people turn to when they’re in need.

That sentiment rang especially true when we learned that the town had begun building a new public park and asked FIDESMA for bicycles for children to use inside the park. FIDESMA gladly donated 15 children’s bikes at no cost. We were fortunate enough to be there in person when the town came to pick them up. After years of loading bicycles onto trucks in the U.S., I had the incredible honor to help load on the receiving end.

A few days later, we were invited to a ceremony at the new park to celebrate FIDESMA’s contributions to the town. The event also honored the indigenous women’s group that FIDESMA supports. Through this initiative, women create and sell handwoven tapestries and traditional clothing using long-established Mayan techniques. Margarita, an artist herself who makes jewelry, helps these rural women bring their handmade goods to larger markets, increasing both their reach and their profits.

These women also benefit directly from the sewing machines we ship alongside our bicycles. While they continue using traditional techniques, the machines supplement their work, allowing them to expand production and grow their income.

At the ceremony, we also had the privilege of donating a bicycle to a local farmer who had been struggling to make ends meet. Identified by FIDESMA for his strong work ethic and long walks to work each day, he was selected to receive a donated bike. Having the opportunity to see him accept the gift and ride away was a deeply moving reminder of why we do what we do.

Stories like these remind us that a bicycle or sewing machine can be an important tool for a pathway to opportunity. With each shipment, we’re not just delivering aid; we’re supporting organizations like FIDESMA that are deeply rooted in their communities and building better lives. Thank you for your continued support.

bicycles, Guatemala

Cycling Reaches Critical Mass in Guatemala

June 24, 2025 Michael Sabrio

Spring 2025 Newsletter

The cycling culture in Guatemala is on the rise, moving beyond simple utility and evolving into a lifestyle of leisure and fun. Cycling groups, the growing popularity of mountain biking, and an increasing interest in vintage bicycles—trends we’ve long seen in the United States—are now taking root and gaining momentum in Guatemala. Riding that wave for more than 20 years, Masa Crítica Guatemala has been at the forefront of the country’s cycling movement.

During our recent visit to our partner program FIDESMA, Pedals for Progress had the opportunity to join a group ride organized by Masa Crítica. FIDESMA and Masa Crítica have worked closely together, co-sponsoring group rides, cycling expos, and other events throughout Guatemala City. FIDESMA has supported the group through bicycle repair services, rentals, and sales, all of which help advance Masa Crítica’s mission of expanding the cycling community across the city and country.

Masa Crítica has become a strong voice for cyclists in Guatemala City. “Critical Mass” group rides first started in the 1990s and have popped up worldwide ever since. In Guatemala City, the movement began in 2005, and its timing couldn’t have been better. In a city where crime rates are among the highest in the country, strength in numbers offers a safer way to ride. One participant told us they had once been held at gunpoint while cycling alone, but now feels much safer riding with a large group.

Beyond safety, these group rides are simply fun. Riders of all ages and backgrounds show up to enjoy the ride. Themed rides are especially popular. On the day we joined, the group was decked out in Hawaiian shirts and vintage bikes, celebrating an upcoming vintage bike expo. Riders proudly showcased classic bicycles, many restored and modified by the talented Julián Méndez (in Spanish). The passion for cycling was unmistakable.

Traffic conditions in Guatemala City are also notoriously intense. Drivers often engage in a dog-eat-dog mentality, and traffic laws are merely a suggestion. But again, safety in numbers prevails. Group rides can stop traffic at intersections, giving cyclists safe passage where they’d otherwise be vulnerable. Guides equipped with high-visibility vests and whistles help the group stay organized and secure as they navigate the streets.

Seeing progress in the U.S., like new bicycle-passing law in New Jersey, is a promising reminder that similar protections can take hold in Guatemala. Cycling is becoming more popular, and we’re excited to help keep it growing around the world.

bicycles, Guatemala

Rolando: Reseller of P4P Bikes in Guatemala

June 24, 2025 Michael Sabrio

Spring 2025 Newsletter

This is Rolando, a shop owner and bike mechanic at Dbicis Taller S.J. (Bike Workshop San José). He has been running his small business for 16 years, serving his rural community with bicycle sales and repairs.

Located deep in Guatemala, San José Poaquil sits over an hour from the Ecobici bike shop in Chimaltenango, accessible only by tough, winding mountain roads. For the last two years, Rolando has been purchasing bicycles from Ecobici thanks to his longtime friendship with Alfuno, co-founder of FIDESMA. Through this relationship, he has been able to acquire higher-quality used bicycles from the United States—bikes that outperform the imported Chinese models he previously relied on.

The decision to source from FIDESMA has helped Rolando bolster his inventory and offer his customers more durable, reliable bicycles. American brand bikes—especially used Trek models—are highly preferred and can sell for around $200 USD, compared to roughly $100 USD for a new, off-brand Chinese bike. That price difference reflects a big gap in quality. The used bikes from the U.S. far exceed their lower-end counterparts in performance and longevity.

Rolando makes use of every square foot in his compact 15×8-foot shop. Tools and spare parts cover his workbench, while bikes and wheels hang from the walls and fill every corner. It’s a modest space, but it allows him to earn a living doing something he’s passionate about—fixing bikes and serving his neighbors.

For years, Rolando worked alongside his son, who helped run the shop before leaving two years ago to pursue construction work in the United States. Clearly, mechanical talent runs in the family. Rolando continues to make incredible use of limited tools and supplies. Several bikes were hanging from the walls, drying after being freshly spray-painted. He even uses an angle grinder to modify larger bicycle frames to better fit the smaller stature of the local population.

Despite his skill and resourcefulness, Rolando faces challenges when it comes to repairing newer, high-end bikes. While Trek remains the most popular brand, some newer models are beyond his current expertise. He occasionally relies on help from a fellow mechanic in Chimaltenango, but the hour-long drive makes it hard to keep up with demand.

Eager to improve, Rolando hopes to expand his knowledge so he can better service these newer models. Entirely self-taught, he has learned through trial and error and dreams of starting bike repair lessons for others in his community. He recognizes the growing interest in cycling throughout Guatemala and wants to help others keep up with the rising demand.

Pedals for Progress is proud to support small bike shops like Dbicis Taller S.J. Rolando is just one example of how our work helps foster economic development, entrepreneurship, and access to mobility in the developing world. Every bike sold in Rolando’s shop goes into the hands of a hard-working person in rural Guatemala. His story is a great example of the kind of sustainable progress we aim to support—one bike, and one mechanic, at a time.

Belize

Note from Belize, June 2025

June 10, 2025 Michael Sabrio

Dear Pedals for Progress and Valued Donors,

On behalf of God Cares Outreach, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation of bicycles and sewing machines. Your ongoing support is instrumental in helping us establish sustainable platforms that not only sustain our programs but also create vital employment opportunities for families across Belize.

Thanks to your kindness, we are able to provide low-income families with reliable transportation, empowering them to access education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Furthermore, your donations enable us to make a profound impact on the future of Belize by offering over 100 scholarships annually — including tuition, uniforms, and school supplies — to children from impoverished communities.

This sustainable model is transforming lives and shaping the trajectory of our nation. By investing in the education and livelihood of young people, we are giving them the tools to pursue their dreams and break the cycle of poverty. We firmly believe that every child deserves equal access to quality education, and together, we are making that a reality.

Thank you, Pedals for Progress, and all those who keep this incredible organization moving forward. Because of your generosity, Belize is on a path of progress and hope.

With deepest appreciation,
Derrick Pitts
God Cares Outreach
10 June 2025

Business

P4P/SP 2024 Annual Report: 10/01/2023 to 09/30/2024

May 24, 2025 Michael Sabrio

Pedals for Progress, a New Jersey nonprofit corporation, empowers sustainable economic development by recycling bicycles and sewing machines from the U.S. and shipping them to motivated people in the developing world. Pedals for Progress (P4P) is a nonprofit charity incorporated under the laws of New Jersey and registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt charity under section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code (EIN: 22-3122003). A ten-member unpaid board of trustees oversees a paid staff of 2 and a network of hundreds of volunteers.

2024 HIGHLIGHTS

Pedals for Progress shipped 4 containers and 4 LCL (Less than Container Load) shipments for a total of 1,805 bicycles, and 406 sewing machines, to 6 nonprofit agency partners in 6 developing countries. This brings cumulative donations shipped since 1991 to 166,737 bicycles, 6,579 sewing machines.

We concentrated our collection operations within the New York City and Philadelphia suburbs increasing our efficiency. Our bicycle and sewing machine collections were sponsored by 31 community partners in five states.

2024 Shipments

Recipients of Fiscal 2024 Bicycle Container Shipments

Absolute Bikes Tirana, Tirana, Albania (450 Bikes and 50 Sewing Machines)
Association Défi et Révolution de la Vie Rural (DRVR), Togo (496 bicycles and 20 sewing machines)
God Cares Outreach (P4P-Belize), Belize City, Belize (404 bicycles and 25 sewing machines)
Kola Nut Producers Association/SlowFood Sierra Leone, Free Town, Sierra Leone (455 Bikes and 65 Sewing Machines)

Started the year 10/1/23 with 320 bicycles in inventory.

Ended the year 9/30/24 with 119 bicycles remaining in inventory.

2024 Total Shipped: 1,805, Total Collected: 1,604

Bicycle Shipments by Region

	Fiscal 2024	Fiscal 2023
Africa	53%	18%
Asia	0%	0%
Central America	22%	82%
Eastern Europe	25%	0%

Recipients of Fiscal 2024 Sewing Machine LCL Shipments

Village Care Initiatives (30 sewing machines)
Mityana Open Troop Foundation, Uganda (144 sewing machines)
Chief Promotions, Tanzania (72 sewing machines)
P4P container shipments – 160 sewing machines (see above)

Started the year 10/1/23 with 221 sewing machines in inventory.

Ended the year 9/30/24 with 252 sewing machines in inventory.

2024 Total Shipped: 406, 2023 Total Collected: 437

Sewing Machines Shipments by Region

	Fiscal 2024	Fiscal 2023
Africa	82%	63%
Asia	0%	0%
Central America	6%	37%
Eastern Europe	12%	0%

OVERSEAS PARTNERS

During the year, Pedals for Progress continued to serve our smaller reliable partners for the majority of our shipments with the addition of three newer programs.

The most critical factors in creating a sustainable, self-financing partnership are shipping costs and effective administration by our overseas partners. We currently consider 4 partnerships as sustainable, i.e., capable of paying for successive shipments: Belize, Guatemala, Togo, and Uganda. Experience has proven that when the shipping costs are at or below $15 per bike or $10 per sewing machine, with good management, this cost is low enough to sustain a self-financing partnership. Without charitable donations, grants or other funding, Pedals for Progress is limited to working primarily in Central America and the Caribbean, while Africa and Eastern Europe require subsidies to pay their higher shipping costs. Overseas distribution success is determined by per unit cost. Landlocked countries remain beyond our reach due to excessive inland transportation costs. Domestic shipping is also expensive; our domestic inland trucking costs to get shipments to port have more than doubled in the last five years.

While our primary goal is to supply environmentally sound transportation to communities and stimulate the greater movement of goods and services, our partners often generate extra funds from the bikes we ship them. These windfall funds, in turn, finance a breadth of community development activities.

Still, we are hopeful that other partner organizations, including some that did not receive bikes in 2024, will pay all or most expenses for new shipments in fiscal 2025, or subsidies will be found to initiate new programs.

CONTINUING PARTNERS

Guatemala: Fundación Integral de Desarrollo Sostenible y Medio Oriente (FIDESMA), San Andrés Itzapa, Chimaltenango *active, but did not receive shipments in FY24*
Togo: Association Défi et Révolution de la Vie Rurale (DRVR), Vogan
Uganda: The Mityana Open Troop Foundation, Mityana
Belize: P4P/Belize, Belize City

NEW PARTNERS 2024

P4P was able to take on several new partners in FY24. Special attention was given to maintain current partnerships that needed increased focus to help them regroup costs due to ripple effects of the pandemic in FY23. With the prospect of expanding our partnerships for FY24 we added these new partners:

Albania: Absolute Bikes Tirana, Tirana
Sierra Leone: SlowFood Sierra Leone, Freetown
Sierra Leone: Village Care Initiatives, Freetown (Sewing Peace)
Tanzania: Chief Promotions, Dar es Salaam (Sewing Peace)

We’d like to welcome these new programs to Pedals for Progress/Sewing Peace.

FINANCES

2024 was a great year for Pedals for Progress finances. We started fiscal 2024 in a good financial position with a strong balance sheet. Our operating income relies on four primary income streams: cash donations with bikes and sewing machines, cash donations from the twice-annual solicitation, corporate donations, and revolving funds and fees from our international partners. Solicitations were better than previous year, with larger donations from a couple long-term supporters helping us meet our solicitation goals. Most notably, we received a one-time individual donation that was well above our all time high. We’d like to thank Mrs. Siebel for her contribution.

Direct corporate donations have been decreasing over the past twenty years due to a focus on employee matching programs. Our sustaining international partners are expected to reimburse Pedals for Progress for the cost of containers or LCL shipments. These are categorized as revolving funds: the partners save income to pay for successive shipments. This category met expectations as the number of containers shipped to sustaining partners met the plan. Overall, 2024 operating income exceeded budget.

Operating expenses include four large categories: employee and officers’ compensation, shipping and packing, collections expenses, and office rent. Shipping and packing expenses continue to remain high largely due to the increased cost of shipping and fuel. Collection expenses, office rent, and all remaining minor expenses categories met expectations.

P4P in 2024 had a few extraordinary items. P4P has a conservative investment policy. 2024 was a good period for stocks, bonds, and mutual funds as they generally increased in value. These generated other income for P4P as did some of the stock donations.

Overall, 2024 exceeded financial expectations for P4P.

P4P Balance Sheet, Fiscal Year 2024

P4P Profit & Loss, Fiscal Year 2024

CORPORATE AND IN-KIND DONORS

FedEx continues to deliver to New Jersey, at no cost, the bicycles collected by the Green Mountain Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, based in Burlington, Vermont.

Union Township Recreation, at no cost, donated Soccer balls that were included in our shipment to Sierra Leone.

Mavis in Califon, at no cost, donated trucking maintenance.

Thank you to the many corporations that participate through matching gifts.

We are very thankful for the support of these organizations and the recognition they have given us.

KEY VOLUNTEERS

Pedals for Progress depends on the efforts of volunteers, several hundred of them, to publicize and work collections, prep bikes for shipping, help us warehouse bikes, and eventually load them into containers bound for our partner agencies overseas.

A special thanks to Michael Sabrio for managing at bike collections and maintaing Webmaster duties; Maureen Greenbaum for aiding in online advertisements and expansion efforts. We thank our Tinkerers Dennis Smyth, Paul Lemaire and Mary O’Brien for their excellent work refurbishing many of the sewing machines we ship.

Thank you to Joanne Heidkamp, Paul Demers, Bob Thompson, and Mary O’Brien for leading, organizing, and executing bicycle and sewing machine procurement throughout the state of Vermont. We would also like to thank Joanne for helping introduce our new twice a year collectors meetings.

We especially thank these collectors:

Jerry Agasar with the Newtown Rotary Club: 119 bikes and 21 sewing machines

Casey Walsh with Faith Lutheran Church: 64 bikes and 13 sewing machines

Christine Potts and John Greenberg with St. John’s Episcopal Church: 192 bikes and 11 sewing machines

Daryl Detrick with the Warren Hills HS Computer Science Club: 154 bikes and 64 sewing machines

David Hanrahan and Alicia Fichera with the Vineland Rotary Club and DNS Solutions: 97 bikes and 20 sewing machines.

Colin Purcell and the Christian Brothers Academy: 121 bikes and 10 sewing machines

PROGRAM CHALLENGES

Pedals for Progress began the year on a strong and positive note and we were able to maintain strong financial standing. We still faced challenges stemming from rippling effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic, particularly inflation, and increased prices of gasoline and shipping.

Pedals for Progress has been able to maintain a very slim employee base after the full transition of leadership mentioned in our last fiscal year but still face the need to fundraise for support.

The bicycles collected this year continue to be the highest quality bikes that we have ever collected. The most common brand name was Trek and we collected over 80% mountain bikes in the adult bike category. The vast majority of bikes we collected were originally sold in a bike shop for a relatively high price.

Our spring collection season, while historically very strong, has continued to diminish in success. Our fall collections season is greatly improving and now considered our strong season. The decrease in collection totals for our spring collections season is unknown as sponsorship remained on par with FY23. As we are reliant on the success of collections to keep us financially active, we had to rely heavily on our summer solicitation to help us keep up with our added salary line and general operations.

Encouraging pre-collection efforts with our sponsors continues to be a challenge mostly due to storage restraints on smaller clubs. We hope to find solutions to make drop offs easier for donors. We hope to improve collection efforts by working more closely with our collection sponsors on advertisement and pre-collection efforts.

P4P was fortunate to receive a large one-time donation this spring that further helped our program with decreased bicycle donations felt this spring. This highlights the need for increased individual donations and the importance of fundraising efforts outside our collection efforts.

Pedals for Progress developed partnerships worldwide to diversify relationships and reduce the risk of events in one country or region negatively affecting our operations. Since reduction of transportation costs is doubtful, we are seeking sponsorships to supplement our African and other high cost partnerships. Partner programs in Central America, which have a landed cost of under $15 per bike, are successful financially and require no further subsidies to continue shipments. P4P inland partners in Eastern Europe and Africa will fail without financial support. International shipping costs in these regions run from $16 per bike on the coast to as high as $38 inland (Uganda).

Shipping the sewing machines within bicycles shipments makes the delivery of these heavy objects affordable. However, our bicycle partners need relatively few sewing machines. The challenge is to find the funding to deliver machines to small sewing programs like the Mityana Open Troop Foundation in Uganda or to get them delivered very inexpensively. Most new sewing projects require only two pallets of machines. Due to that low volume, initial shipments were previously shipped via air freight, which is very expensive. P4P developed in 2013 the capacity to ship by boat individual pallets of sewing machines at a very reasonable cost. This low-cost shipping allows us to expand our small standalone sewing machine projects globally.

GOALS FOR 2025

During fiscal 2024, Pedals for Progress plans to ship approximately 3,000 bicycles and 500 sewing machines. Collection sites where we send our personnel will be limited to the greater suburbs of New York and Philadelphia. Bicycles collected outside this region need to be delivered to our New Jersey warehouse by the collection sponsors. We aim to add many more collections sponsors to help us meet these expected goals. We encourage interested individuals or groups to reach out to us to inquire about sponsoring a collection.

Pedals for Progress challenges continue to be financial, not supply-side driven. With more funding, we can collect significantly more bikes within our current footprint and initiate more programs internationally. Increasing production requires more staff for attending potential collections and more vehicles on the road. The operational costs of producing the bicycles and sewing machines are significant. P4P is unable to accept bicycles without an accompanying cash donation; this limits production. Our collection efforts that produce the product we deliver. In many ways, you can think of P4P as a trucking company. Every trip in the truck produces more bicycles and sewing machines, our products. These products make the difference globally by helping people in need help themselves.

2024 Board of Trustees

Jamie Acosta
Jerry Agasar
John Alexander, Chair
Daryl Detrick
David Schweidenback, treasurer and VP, International Programs
Alan Schultz, President
Casey Walsh
Andrew Williams
Thomas Beishke
Ryan Saul, secretary

STAFF

Alan Schultz, President
David Schweidenback, Vice President, International Programs and Founder
Michael Sabrio, Webmaster
Robert Delghiaccio, Warehouseman
Otto Hintz, Warehouseman
Evan Vaccarella, Warehouseman
Joel Ortega. Warehouseman
Paul Salvetti, Warehouseman

Further information about Pedals for Progress is available at www.p4p.org. This includes our financial statements, IRS Form 990s, and information about our 501(c)(3) nonprofit tax-exempt status.

To receive our newsletters or information on how to collect bikes and/or sewing machines, contact alan@p4p.org. To request a donation of a container of bicycles or sewing machines, contact Dave at dschweidenback@gmail.com

bicycles, Kosovo

Kosovo, April 2025: Back on the Road, A Long-Awaited Reunion of Wheels and Hope

April 21, 2025 Michael Sabrio

GoBike
Spring 2025 Newsletter

After a long and unexpected pause, GoBike is thrilled to share that we are finally continuing our journey — with new bicycles, renewed energy, and the same mission that brought us together years ago: building a better future, one pedal stroke at a time.

Our story began in 2018 when Pedals for Progress sent a container of 450 bicycles to Kosovo — a small, landlocked country nestled in the Balkans, often overlooked on the world map, but full of big dreams and resilient people. That shipment helped us establish GoBike, a social enterprise with a vision to promote cycling, reduce our environmental footprint, and empower youth, women, and under-served communities.

Over two summers, we sold hundreds of bicycles, taught children to ride for the first time, organized community cycling events, and became a recognizable voice for sustainable urban mobility in Kosovo. We even branched out, working with sewing machines to support women’s empowerment programs in marginalized communities.

Then, as with so many good things, the pandemic brought everything to a halt.

The long pause since our first container wasn’t part of the plan, but life had other ideas. The Covid-19 pandemic forced us to shut down completely for a year and a half. Programs were suspended, projects delayed, and a second shipment remained a hopeful “one day” dream. In Kosovo, the crisis was felt deeply — with no vaccines until March 2021 and limited access to resources. But the passion behind GoBike never faded.

Now, in 2025, we’re finally back — and so are the bicycles.

This new shipment represents more than just parts and pedals. It’s a powerful reminder of what grassroots cooperation and international solidarity can achieve, even when time and distance get in the way. Our communities are once again buzzing with anticipation. New cycling schools will be launched. More women and children will be empowered. And yes — we’ll get more people out of their cars and onto two wheels.

To our partner – Pedals for Progress (P4P): thank you for not giving up on us. Thank you for remembering Kosovo, a country that is small in size but rich in spirit. And thank you for helping us get back on the road — where we belong.

We’re just getting started (again).

Albania, bicycles

Albania, February 2025: Special Delivery for Klodjan

March 15, 2025 Michael Sabrio

Spring 2025 Newsletter

On February 14, 2025, we had the privilege of delivering a bicycle to Klodjan, a young man living with his mother, who is battling a serious illness. Their situation is tough, his mother is unable to move, and as an only child, Klodjan has had to take on the responsibility of caring for her. But even in the face of such challenges, Klodjan welcomed us with warmth and a strength that left a lasting impression.

The bicycle wasn’t just a convenience; it was a way to change Klodjan’s life. With it, Klodjan was able to find a job as a delivery person at a local bookstore. This new role has given him not just an income, but also a sense of independence. For the first time in a long while, he can support his family without depending on others for help. The bicycle, something many of us might take for granted, became the key to unlocking new possibilities for Klodjan.

But it wasn’t just the bicycle. We were also able to provide food supplies, thanks to the funds from the sale of another bicycle. While it may seem like a small gesture, it was part of a bigger vision, where people aren’t just given temporary relief, but are empowered to build their own sustainable futures. With a steady income from his new job, Klodjan can now take care of himself and his mother with dignity, instead of relying on charity.

Klodjan’s story is one of resilience. He’s caring for a mother who cannot move, and yet he continues to push forward. He didn’t wait for life to get easier; he found a way to make it better. This job at the bookstore, made possible by the bicycle, is more than just a paycheck for Klodjan. It’s a chance to stand on his own, to feel proud of his ability to contribute and provide. It’s a step towards a future where he and his mother are no longer at the mercy of circumstances.

We’re incredibly grateful to have been a part of Klodjan’s story. His determination to move forward, despite everything, is inspiring. We’re excited to see where this new chapter takes him, and we hope his journey continues to remind us all that, with a little help and a lot of heart, anything is possible.

Here’s a video.

pedals for progress

All posts by Michael Sabrio

Report from Guatemala, Spring 2025

Women’s Group and Bike Donation

Cycling Reaches Critical Mass in Guatemala

Rolando: Reseller of P4P Bikes in Guatemala

Note from Belize, June 2025

P4P/SP 2024 Annual Report: 10/01/2023 to 09/30/2024

2024 HIGHLIGHTS

2024 Shipments

Recipients of Fiscal 2024 Bicycle Container Shipments

Bicycle Shipments by Region

Recipients of Fiscal 2024 Sewing Machine LCL Shipments

Sewing Machines Shipments by Region

OVERSEAS PARTNERS

CONTINUING PARTNERS

NEW PARTNERS 2024

FINANCES

CORPORATE AND IN-KIND DONORS

KEY VOLUNTEERS

2024 COLLECTION SPONSORS

PROGRAM CHALLENGES

GOALS FOR 2025

2024 Board of Trustees

STAFF

Kosovo, April 2025: Back on the Road, A Long-Awaited Reunion of Wheels and Hope

Albania, February 2025: Special Delivery for Klodjan

Donate bicycles and sewing machines to developing countries