MADISON, Wis. — A local nonprofit encourages people to serve their communities and get a free bicycle for doing it.

Wheels for Winners has been around for 30 years. The nonprofit collects used bikes and repairs them to nearly new standards.

“We turn out about 400 bikes a year,” said Chairman of the Board Neil McCallum. “But we take in probably 750 bikes.”

The remaining bikes are dismantled for parts or donated to other partners. Not a single one goes to waste.

“What we’re trying to do here is allow young people that might not be able to afford a bike to have a bike with just a little bit of sweat equity,” McCallum said.

That sweat equity is 10 hours of community service. “Earners” can volunteer for any organization or program that serves Madison. McCallum said many help churches, soup kitchens and other nonprofits.

People fill out an application online, which is offered in both English and Spanish. After their community service, they come select a bike from the hundreds in the garage and head on their way. Each recipient is given a bike lock and a new helmet.

“We had one young lady refugee… and as they were loading her bike in the car, she came and opened the door and blew us a kiss,” he said. “She didn’t understand the language, but she knew the emotion. That just melted our hearts.”

The entire organization is run by volunteers. Many of them are retired.

“Like a lot of us, I never really worked with my hands for my career,” said volunteer Neil Lerner. “When I retired, it was like yep, that’s what I’m gonna do.”

Madison is known as a big city for bicycling. It frequently wins awards and shows up on lists of America’s most bike-friendly cities.

“Close your eyes and think about the time you got your first bike. A big smile comes on your face,” McCallum said. “For 30 years, Wheels for Winners have been putting smiles on young people’s faces.”

The organization said it could always use more bikes and volunteers. To learn more, click here.