In our local community one man had a simple passion for helping others and that passion has skyrocketed. Now a full-fledged charity with a 14,000 sq. ft. warehouse space, the Jack the Bike Man organization, facilitated with a number of paid helpers and an army of unpaid helpers, has continued to pick up steam as it assists the underprivileged gain access to bicycles.
Their Christmas Bike giveaway this past year fostered over 1200 bikes and helmets that were given to children at no cost. This is an unprecedented amount of goodwill and assistance to the community and literally ten times the amount of bikes they gave away when they first began in 2007.
When asked what was so important about giving bikes to kids, Jack Hairston, the founder commented, “Bikes are incredible, especially at such an early age. It helps kids form healthy habits that can last a lifetime, which is critical with childhood obesity being the way it is. Besides, every kid deserves to have a bike, to grow up with those memories.”
Since beginning, they’ve developed several other programs. There’s the young adult program that’s geared toward helping people who can’t afford a bike. But, they don’t just give them away. Kids can get free bikes, but adults have to work for them.
The suggested plan for young adults is that they fix three of the many old bikes that are donated to Jack the Bike Man. The first fixed bike goes to the organization to be sold out of their shop. The second fixed bike goes to an acquaintance of the young adult and the third bike goes to the young adult. The hope is that this process helps someone seeking a bike not only get a bike, but rather earn a bike and in addition to that also experience the power of giving and helping others. This program has since allowed young adults to earn over 500 bicycles.
Their adult program is a little less structured, finding different avenues for them to assist with the massive operation. An average adult gives 15-20 hours of service in exchange for a bicycle doing all things from cleaning, organizing or working in the shop. That process has allowed adults to earn over 500, just like the teen program.
Often times this bicycle is crucial for someone who has come on hard times. But, with a bike, it can make the difference of whether or not a person gets to the employment that will get them back on their feet. These small things can be critical in a person changing their life.
One of the more remarkable things to happen is subtle and often times overlooked. Many of the participants of the program continue to help around the organization after getting a bike. This could mean that the program is not only working in helping get bikes in the hands of people who need them, but helping people open their hearts and give more.
So, how does Jack the Bike Man pay for their costs?
There is a bike shop that operates out of the warehouse, selling bikes that have been donated and fixed up. However, a large amount of funds come from grants and donations.
Visit JacktheBikeMan.org to learn more and see how you can help.
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