Residents provide bicycles for youths
BY ELANA ARON Correspondent

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - The residents at the Riviera adult community on Jackson Mills Road have done it again, only better.

Together with Beacon Cycling and Fitness Center, Howell, and Open Door of Freehold, they will once again put smiles on the faces of needy children.

Last year Riviera residents were able to raise enough money to buy 10 new bicycles for needy children at holiday time. This year, 16 new bicycles have been purchased.

Marie Martino, who is the social community chair at the Riviera, is also a member of the Sunshine Club, a club dedicated to sending cards and gifts to sick individuals.

The club adopted Freehold Area Open Door, which is a nonprofit organization that provides food, emergency funding, mentoring and scholarship programs to needy families in Freehold Township, Freehold Borough, Colts Neck, Marlboro, and Millstone Township.

Riviera residents give the bicycles to Open Door representatives who distribute them to very grateful families for Christmas.

"At least you know it's going to local children," Martino said. "We (Riviera) want to be a part of the Freehold community. People here are so incredibly giving."

Martino said none of this would be possible without Mitch Rovins, who owns of Beacon Cycling, Route 9, Howell.

According to Martino, Rovins not only sold the bicycles at cost, he also assembled them and arranged for their delivery.

"He's done a lot of the legwork," Martino said of Rovins. "We gave him a list and he ordered all the bicycles for us. At Christmas time it's charitable on his part. It's a mission of love."

For more information about Open Door visit www.freeholdareaopendoor.org or call (732) 780-1089.