Event, organized by Waste Connections, brings volunteers together to build bicycles for children

The Scott Campbell Christmas Promise continues.

And this year, his inspiration, the Bike Build, was all under one roof at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds.

Hundreds of volunteers showed up Saturday morning — including rivals Santa Claus and The Grinch — to work together, assembling close to 600 bicycles to be given to children in need throughout Clark County.

Campbell was a longtime employee of Waste Connections. He started the Bike Build with 100 bicycles and 20 people. It has grown so much in the 12 years that his colleagues from Waste Connections now make it an annual event, to bring everyone together, to build the bikes together.

“Scott passed away five years ago. This was his Christmas Promise, to move the community forward, always thinking of the community,” said Cyndi Holloway, governmental and community affairs director at Waste Connections. “So we all promised, no matter what, we’d always have a Bike Build. Five years since he’s been gone, and here we are, still doing it.”

It was difficult to get everyone under one roof for a couple of years during the pandemic. Taylor Transport allowed use of its facility for a drive-through of sorts, as volunteers picked up bicycles and brought them home to build.

Waste Connections was thrilled that the fairgrounds had room for them this year. 

“It’s harder and harder to find space,” Holloway said. “We were very fortunate this year by a ‘Scott miracle’ that Exhibit Hall A opened for us and they allowed us to come in and do the Bike Build.”

The Bike Build coordinators appreciated being able to deliver the bicycles during the pandemic the past couple of years, figuring out a way to get the job done. But it is a better event with everyone together.

“It is about bringing people together. Doing it in a hybrid, drive-through, just didn’t give us that spirit,” Holloway said. “It takes a village to do this. You’ll see the energy that just starts coming from all the people getting together to do a fabulous thing. The passion is unreal, and you just don’t want to miss out on that.”

There was a DJ mixing holiday music with the occasional 80s classic hit. Rally the Raptor showed up from the Ridgefield Raptors. 

And then there was the odd collection of Santa Claus, The Grinch, a reindeer, and a Wampa, the monster from the planet Hoth of Star Wars fame.

Volunteers took pictures with them in between all the required assembly. The volunteers also were fed breakfast and hot drinks.  

It was a party, for a great cause.

And were very inspired volunteers. 

Kyle Buttolph and his daughter Lindsey were among the first in line. This was their first Bike Build experience.

“I thought it would be good father-daughter bonding,” Kyle said. “I enjoy doing projects with her. It’s always good to give you to unfortunate kids.”

The Bike Build was scheduled to run all day. But by 10:30 a.m., 90 minutes after it started, every bicycle was either built or in the process of being built. There were no more bikes left for anyone else to grab.

A cutout picture of Scott Campbell was there to greet volunteers on the way in and say goodbye on the way out of the facility. 

Just another touch to remember the spirit of Scott Campbell.

“Scott was a big, huge light,” Holloway said. “He took care of us all. He was a giant soul, always laughing, always connecting people. His heart was so good. He had a way of connecting people.”

Campbell’s idea has turned into Christmas morning joy for thousands of children in the county through the years. 

At around 11:15 a.m., two women showed up, but it was too late to build a bike. 

“This is unreal,” one woman said, overjoyed with the number of volunteers it took to build that many bicycles. “God’s work.”

This year, the bicycles will be delivered via Santa’s Posse, Friends of the Children, EOCF (Education Opportunities for Children and Families), the Police Athletic League, and the YMCA.

Among the businesses that helped Waste Connection put on this year’s event were: Taylor Transport, Main Event, Bike Clark County, Legacy 6, and Pacific Perks Coffee.