Cargill Employees Build Bikes for Boys Town Youth

On opposite sides of a closed door stood two groups. On one side were Cargill plant employees who had just finished assembling bicycles as part of a team-building exercise. On the other were dozens of Boys Town youth.

When the door swung open, it was impossible to know who was more surprised.

Boys Town kids saw shiny new bicycles of every size and color, put together just for them. The Cargill employees saw dozens of smiling, ecstatic faces racing toward the gifts they had just made.

“Assembling the bikes was a fun exercise, but the response at the end was just great,” said Cargill plant manager Gavin Atkinson. “They didn’t expect to see the kids come running into the room with smiles on their faces. There was a gasp, and a lot of people were teary-eyed.”

Approximately 60 bikes were assembled during two late-summer team-building sessions involving nearly 400 plant employees as part of an annual employee get-together. The men and women who assembled the bikes were unaware they were about to brighten the day of so many children. According to Atkinson, it was a surprise twist and a great way for the company to give back to the community. 

“The Cargill event was one of the most touching events I have experienced,” said Judy Safranek, Boys Town National Development Officer. “We are so thankful to them for sharing their time and hard work to build all these bikes. Cargill truly made a difference in the lives of our kids.”