Many people have suffered financially this year. With inflation driving up the cost of necessary housing and essential goods, everyone is feeling the pinch in their pocketbooks.
“People are finding themselves in situations they never could have imagined from loss of a job to loss of affordable living,” said Bikes for Christ president Pat Simmons. “Times are hard right now and a bicycle can be life-changing in so many ways.”
Bikes for Christ partners with more than 100 organizations in the Tampa Bay Area to supply bicycles as transportation to the clients they work with and needs help from the community this Christmas season to continue to help those less fortunate.
“Our main focus is Veterans trying to overcome hardships, underprivileged children and anyone who is in need and is trying to climb out of the grips of poverty or the situation they’re in,” said Simmons. “Along with every bike we give out, we also provide a Gospel of John, as we want that individual to know that Christ cares for and loves them.”
Recent bicycle recipients include: a Brandon High School student who thanks to the bike will be able to arrive to school on-time, a man who needed transportation to get to work and a recent mother and son from Cuba who lacked basic transportation.
Bikes for Christ distributes approximately 320 bikes in a typical year. This year, they surpassed that number in September and expect to distribute 450 bikes by Dec. 31.
The need for bicycles is so great they’re asking members of the community for assistance. The organization is seeking good, used bicycles in “adult” sizes. Thye don’t have to be in perfect condition but they do need to be in rideable condition or close to it so repairs can be done quickly and they can quickly get them into the hands (and feet) of the people who need them.
Large-framed bicycles are in highest demand. “Eighty-five percent of the orders our partner organizations place is for mens’ bicycles, those are always the greatest need,” said Simmons.
For more information or to make a monetary of bicycle donation visit Bikes4Christ.com/donations.