Connecticut State Troopers Receive Donation of First Responder Winter Bags for the Homeless

Middletown, CT. (November 22, 2017): Connecticut State Troopers receive a donation of First Responder Winter Bags for the Homeless from the Massachusetts State Police and Bob “The Bike Man” Charland of Springfield, MA.

Earlier this year Bob Charland, who is terminally ill, founded a non-profit organization to provide bicycles to less fortunate children. The organization, Pedal Thru Youth (http://pedalthruyouth.org/), was founded on the idea that all children should have the opportunity to lead an active life. Pedal Thru Youth seeks to promote an active lifestyle by donating repaired or rebuilt bicycles to children and families who may not be able to afford a bicycle on their own.  Since the formal organization has been founded, over 300 bicycles have been provided to children in the Springfield and Worcester, MA area.

Connecticut State Trooper Brindiana Warenda has been actively involved with the organization, along with Massachusetts State Police, Springfield Police Department, Hampden County Sheriff’s Office and Chicopee Police Department.  

Bob Charland recently envisioned another idea, First Responder Winter Bags for the Homeless (http://www.westernmassnews.com/story/36620081/the-bike-guy-gives-safety-bags-for-the-homeless). The bags contain foot/hand warmers, hats, gloves, socks, toothbrushes/toothpaste, soap, lotion, baby wipes, meal replacement shakes, food, blankets and some contain feminine hygiene products.

On November 22, 2017, Bob Charland and the Massachusetts State Police traveled to Connecticut State Police Headquarters in Middletown where they donated 80 First Responder Winter Bags for the Homeless to Connecticut State Troopers.

The winter bags will be distributed to troopers at Troops A - Southbury, Troop G - Bridgeport and Troop H - Hartford. The troopers will carry the winter bags in their cruisers and will offer the bags and other social services to those in need that they come in contact with.

To learn more about Bob and why he started these organizations, read the People Magazine article: http://people.com/human-interest/massachusetts-auto-mechanic-spends-his-final-days-repairing-bikes/.