Empowering Hearts & Minds in the Community.
About The Westside Community Center
The Westside exists to build community through relationships. Our mission is to empower families and youth academically, socially and spiritually, inspiring them to take on leadership roles in their community. Our vision is that we will be a center that not only serves the community, but one that is served by the community. Those who live within the community that the center serves will teach the programs and services offered by the Westside Community Center.
Giving Bikes Back &
The Bike Build
The WCC Bike Shop is a space where we are able to take well-loved bikes and use them to empower and benefit those in our community. We are able to do this through two unique programs that operate out of the bike shop, Giving Bikes Back and The Bike Build.
Giving Bikes Back is a program of the Westside Community Center that restores used bikes and donates them to the youth and families in our community. Our recipients and partner charities have told us that with limited hours or job loss altogether, many people can't afford gas or bus passes. In addition, people are seeing students' grades and behaviors improve by getting exercise and fresh air after being cooped up with remote learning. Riding their newly donated bikes has given the whole family a way to spend time together and manage stress at a difficult time.
Updates
We are thrilled to report that our Giving Bikes Back program provided 92 bikes in 2022 to those truly in need!! Our average cost per client to run our program, including brand new helmets and locks, was only $31!!!
More importantly, meet a few of our success stories:
*B is homeless and living out of his nonfunctioning car. He used to cycle for fun, health and sport until he became down on his luck. He is now able to get his medicines and make it to the doctor, and his physical and emotional health has improved dramatically! He is also enjoying his new bike so much he is out on the local trails, telling other cyclists about Giving Bikes Back who subsequently have reached out to us to get involved!
*S lives in a local shelter and has been working so very hard to turn her life around. Because of her new bike, she was able to get not one but two jobs. With her newly achieved stable income, S is a month away from qualifying to finance a used car so she can visit her seven year old daughter.
We love our volunteers. If you would like to get involved here's how you can continue to give the gift of freedom, fitness, and fun!
VOLUNTEER:
1. ... As a mechanic or taskmaster. Taskmasters help with inventorying and measuring bikes, pumping tires, moving and organizing bikes, fitting helmets, anything it takes to make our workdays and giveaways run smoothly.
2. ... As a Giving Bikes Back committee member: Making directional decisions, reaching out to potential suppliers or partners, handling social and other media, transporting bikes, etc.
Please let us know of your interest in any of the above by reaching out to givingbikesback@gmail.com. Our next workday is just around the corner!
SPONSOR A SPOKE:
No gift is too small!
And because we are fully volunteer run, 100% of your tax-deductible gift* will help provide parts, helmets, locks and soon lights and backpacks for those that need these extras to work the night shift or simply go to the grocery store.
*Always consult your tax advisor
To donate, please visit www.thewestsidecc.org, click "donate" and be sure to enter "bikes" under additional comments.
