More than 800 bicycles expected to built, then delivered to children

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

Scott Campbell would be thrilled about what his idea has turned into all these years later.

“He absolutely loved the idea of every kid getting a bike for Christmas,” said Cyndi Holloway, community affairs director for Waste Connections.

People showed up Saturday morning at the Clark County Fairgrounds to assemble hundreds of bikes, which will be donated to various organizations that will be delivering those bicycles for Christmas.

It is all part of the Scott Campbell Christmas Promise.

Campbell, the former community affairs director for Waste Connections, made this all possible.

It started as a team building exercise for Waste Connections’ corporate headquarters, Holloway said. Campbell, though, just knew it could turn into something more, something for Clark County.

“It’s for the kids,” Holloway said. “This is a tradition that was started 13 years ago by my predecessor.”

Scott Campbell died from cancer six years ago.

His Bike Build just keeps getting bigger and bigger. This year, more than 800 bicycles will be assembled and delivered. More than 200 bicycles were built on Friday as part of Waste Connections’ employees bike build. The other 600 were to be built Saturday morning. 

It was quite the scene Saturday morning at the Clark County Fairgrounds with all those bicycles being assembled.

“We just love to help serve other people,” said Mandy Fermenick, who was with family and friends representing Washougal Church of Christ. “We just think it’s really cool to do for the community.”

A few years back during the pandemic, Fermenick and friends picked up bicycles to assemble at home. That year, they built 12 bikes. Last year, there were so many volunteers at the Clark County Fairgrounds that the entire event lasted only about two hours.

“It just goes so fast because there are so many volunteers and helpers,” Fermenick said. “We didn’t get to build as many bikes as we would have liked, but we were all here, and it was great.”

Christmas Music. Coffee. Breakfast. It was another festive atmosphere at the Bike Build this year, too.

Some Oregonians made the trip north to lend a hand, too.

“We just love to do it. We love to volunteer,” said Brian Wellman.

He, Bennet Wellman, and Annalisha Cox are from Clackamas.

“It’s a great idea. Every kid should have a bike, really,” Brian Wellman said. “We’re glad to help out and realize (Scott Campbell’s) Christmas wish.”

Curtis Hill of the Vancouver Volcanoes and family made it out to build a bike, too. It was Curtis, his wife Sara, and son D’Angelo.

“It is awesome. It truly is a blessing to be able to help a wonderful organization. It’s great to be a part of it,” Hill said.

The bikes will eventually be delivered to:

• Santa’s Posse
• Friends of the Children Southwest Washington
• Education Opportunities for Children and Families
• YMCA
• YWCA
• Washington Department of Social and Health Services
• Camas Fire Department
• Police Activities League