Nebraska and Kansas clergy partner with Topeka's North Westlake Ace Hardware to build and give away tricycles

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TOPEKA, Kan. — Tricycles were given away to 90 children of the Topeka Community Action Program’s Head Start on Wednesday, Jan. 18, as a result of a project partnership between United Methodist clergy from Kansas and Nebraska and Topeka’s North Westlake Hardware store.

Clergy divided into 90 groups to assemble tricycles. The assembly of the tricycles was to help pastors from Kansas East, Kansas West and Nebraska United Methodist Conferences get to know each other while working on a worthwhile project. Kansas and Nebraska will be served by one bishop beginning in September 2012.

Head Start families were invited to participate in the trike give-away. Idalia Rodriguez was present with her family to pick up a trike for their youngest daughter Genessis. “We are excited for them (the children).” She said the only riding toys the children enjoy are at the Head Start location. Many families shared the family’s anticipation as they waited in the lobby for their trikes to be readied for delivery.

Nearly 800 clergy representing churches all across Nebraska and Kansas are gathered at the Ramada Convention Center in Topeka, to meet each other for the first time as a collective body. Each clergy participant contributed $10 to help defray costs of the give-away including the cost of the tricycles, additional tools, etc. They donated money not knowing the nature of the project until it was revealed mid-day on Wednesday just prior to the assembly work session.

“Our time together, including the opportunity to be in service together, was great. I am thankful for those who offered leadership,” said the Rev. Dr. Carol Roettmer Brewer, Nebraska’s director of connectional ministries/staff leader and one of the meeting planners.

The Topeka Westlake Hardware provided tools for assembly and access to economical pricing on the tricycles. Additionally Easton Bell, Inc., provided discounted helmets given out with the tricycles.

Westlake Ace Store 89 General Manager Mark Sidwell said, “We’re always looking for ways to help the community.” He noted that they had worked with the Topeka Community Action Program Head Start before.

The Rev. Bill Selby from the Center for Pastoral Effectiveness of the Rockies arranged the service project in collaboration with the conference planners from both Kansas and Nebraska. He said he liked his own local Ace hardware store and so he made a random call to the North Westlake Ace.

Ace Hardware Floor Manager Wes Epperson, who fielded Selby’s call said, “I’m just glad I was the one who picked up the phone that day — how often do you get to give away 90 bikes?”
“The goal of the small group experience was to connect people through a meaningful project to seek a common vision,” said Selby. “In doing so, participants might be able to move past the natural concerns of bringing three conferences together to valuing the personal relationships created by this move.”

Bike assembly participant Portia Cavitt from Nebraska commented on the assembly process, “We enjoyed excellent team work, we trusted each other.” She also noted that they eventually had to read some of the instructions as there was at least one do-over.

Nancy Pauls from Kansas East said, “We had to listen. The ‘redo’ taught us the importance of listening.”

The Rev. Shelly Petz, conference planner from Kansas West said, “I was moved by the resulting smiles and laughter among the children, their families and the clergy. This shared experience, with the ringing of the trike bells in the midst, marked a united venture and shared experience that culminated in profound joy.”

The trike assembly project brought folks together around the table to talk and work together. It also provided a forum for some to unpack our culture’s approach to “gift giving.”

Some of the questions raised included, “How do we lay aside our own needs to help others?” And, “Why is it important for gift givers to actually see the people being helped?” Questions were also raised about how such a large group might come together to work on systemic issues that contribute to placing people in poverty in the first place.

As Craige Sipple (pictured) mounted his trusty new red trike, it was clear that for him these questions were for another day. For now, he and his sister were happy to be taking home this shiny new riding machine. 

See additional photos of the tricycle project on the Nebraska-Kansas Episcopal Area Transition Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NebraskaKansasEpiscopalTransition.