San Dieguito Academy boys water polo team bike drive

The San Dieguito High School Academy boys water polo team is collecting bicycles to donate to the Encinitas Community Resource Center for its Holiday Baskets event.

The Mustangs, who reached the San Diego Section championship match, will be in the SDA parking lot, 800 Santa Fe Drive, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4.

The goal is to collect 50 outgrown or unused bikes that are in good condition, and the team will work with members of a local cycling club to clean and tune-up the bikes. Each year, an average of 600 bikes are requested through the Holiday Baskets program.

“(Coach Scott Kling) wants his players to be well rounded,“ SDA boys water polo parent and volunteer Tammy Dahl said in a news release. “A Boys Water Polo Club was formed at SDA four years ago to facilitate philanthropy for volunteerism and fundraising causes. This is their third year working with the Community Resource Center, and second year holding a bike drive. The CRC is a philanthropy pillar in North County. They are so great to us, and we look forward to working with them every year.”

This year’s CRC Holiday Basket event will serve 1,000 households including over 2,000 children. Bike recipients are chosen in a lottery, and some allow local youth to get their first job or stay in school. The CRC will distribute the bicycles along with other items such as food, toys and clothing on Dec. 17 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

For more information about the bike drive, send a message to sdaboyswaterpolo@gmail.com. To learn more about the CRC and their Holiday Baskets program, visit crcncc.org/help-north-county-residents-in-need.

— Submitted press release