By Kathryn Witte, Nebraska Area communications director
Tricycles were given away to 90 children of the Topeka Community Action Program’s Head Start on 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. One woman was present with her family to pick up a trike for her youngest daughter.
“We are excited for [the children],” the woman said.
She said the only riding toys the children enjoy are at the Head Start location. 
Many families shared the 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 were 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 Rev. 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.
“We’re always looking for ways to help the community,” said Westlake Ace Store 89 General Manager Mark Sidwell. He noted that they had worked with the Topeka Community Action Program Head Start before.
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 made a random call to the North Westlake Ace.
“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?” said Ace Hardware Floor Manager Wes Epperson, who fielded Selby’s call.
“The goal of the small group experience was to connect people through a meaningful project to seek a common vision. 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,” said Selby.
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.”
“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,” said Rev. Shelly Petz, conference planner from Kansas West.
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 one small boy 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 new handsome riding machine.
