DENSO team members in Guelph, Ont., have assembled and donated 41 bicycles to the Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition (GNSC) as part of the company’s Build-a-Bike program. The initiative, which also includes helmets with each bike, aims to support local families during the holiday season.
The bicycles were presented to GNSC at DENSO’s Guelph facility on Thursday, along with a $2,000 donation to the coalition’s North End Harvest Market. This marks the sixth year of the Build-a-Bike program, which began in 2017 but was paused in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, the program has provided 238 bicycles to community members.
Brendan Johnson, executive director of GNSC, highlighted the impact of the initiative. “When our community comes together for a common cause, good things happen,” he said. “These bikes are a gift of love and kindness to the community and can make all the difference in creating a memorable holiday for our neighbours and friends in Guelph.”
The program engages DENSO employees each fall, who team up to assemble the bikes while reinforcing product quality principles. Local business Grand River Cycle inspects the bicycles before they are distributed by GNSC to families in need. This year’s donation includes bikes for a range of ages, from young children to adults.
John Klassen, president of DENSO’s Guelph facility, acknowledged the collaborative effort behind the program. “Whether we’re building an automotive product or a bike for a family, our focuses on quality and safety always shine through,” he said. “I’d like to thank our DENSO team, GNSC, and Grand River Cycle for making this a meaningful opportunity to help the community.”
The Guelph facility, part of the global DENSO network, was recognized in 2023 as one of the Waterloo Area’s Top Employers.