Just over a year ago, Jim Ingram (Servant Branch) decided to find a couple of old bikes, restore them and send them to Allendale. Now he and other south central area members are turning castoff bikes into reliable rides for children in Louisiana and Minnesota alike. They've restored 19 bikes so far, including 10 for Allendale children. About 20 more bikes are in the pipeline.
Patrick Gaffney (left) and Jim Ingram (right).The idea for the project came after Jim saw a video of Gerry Deakin’s bike workshop in Allendale. Gerry had begun fixing bikes so he could strengthen his relationships with neighborhood boys. The demand for working bikes was high, but Gerry didn’t have much in the way of funds, spare parts or tools.
Jim works as an electrician at several apartment complexes. I see abandoned bikes all the time, he thought. He called Gerry and immediately agreed to send two bikes.
Members of the south central area offered Jim several older bikes and a garage to store them in. Jeff Winkler, an experienced bike mechanic, helped Jim get the bikes into good repair. The Brummer family delivered the first two bikes on an Easter break trip to Allendale. Jim has since sent eight more.
Gerry is thrilled. “If I see a need for a particular type or size of bike, I can e-mail my requirements to Jim and he comes through. I see the smiles on the kids’ faces when they pick up their bikes—they’re so grateful!”
Kalayna and her new bikeJim learned that many Servant Branch children and some college students also needed bikes, and so he began expanding his mission. Kalayna, a seventh-grader in the south central area, had outgrown her bike and hoped for a new one in time for her class’s bike hike. Jim offered a shiny, new-looking 10-speed, which he adjusted to fit her perfectly. “Having the gears is cool—it’s much easier to ride up and down the hills between home and Grandma’s house,” Kalayna says, “and I love its sparkly purple color!”
The project has borne other fruit as well. Last fall Jim and his crew conducted a bicycle maintenance clinic for the Arrows, Servant Branch’s youth ministry for boys K-6, and they’ll do one for a girls’ group this year.
Meanwhile, after a branch-wide appeal, the supply of bikes keeps growing. Mike Wacker helped Jim acquire 16 more bikes from an apartment house in Dinkytown. The bikes are now being stored in various garages. Requests for bikes are also on the rise. Fortunately, the crew is also expanding. Mechanics Ken Brown and Bill Sturman have pitched in regularly, along with members of Servant Branch’s Action division and its Campus division.
Responses
Julie Walters says:
June 2nd, 2011 at 9:56 PM
Great Work guys. You bring Good News.
Mary Durand says:
June 2nd, 2011 at 11:01 PM
That is AWESOME! What a great and tangible way to serve! Those kids are never going to forget it!
Jack Busekrus says:
June 3rd, 2011 at 3:16 AM
WHAT A BRILL-IENT IDEA... GREAT JOB JIM ...AND JERRY
Cyndi Smith says:
June 3rd, 2011 at 7:39 AM
Bikes -- who would of thought!? What an incredible move of the Spirit, in Jim first, and now in others. It also shows how the Father cares about the smallest desires of a child's heart (not to mention all of ours).
Cyndi
Mike Zusi says:
June 3rd, 2011 at 11:50 AM
Great story. Jim has done a lot of work in the new starts on summer trips over the years and just keeps on serving. Thank you, good brother!
Babs Gedeon says:
June 3rd, 2011 at 1:05 PM
What a generous and joyful way to spread the Spirit of the Lord.
Way to go!
Carmen Fraga says:
June 3rd, 2011 at 4:21 PM
Super idea! I bet this could work in other branches as they build relationships in their neighborhoods. God is moving on wheels! Carmen Fraga
Terry Bomkamp says:
June 3rd, 2011 at 10:10 PM
what a great response to the call of the Holy Spirit........... taking a gift and sharing that gift with others it inspires me to share my gifts, anyone want to go backpacking?
jose werle says:
June 4th, 2011 at 5:39 AM
GReat way to help kids but also the unemployed. However, they need locks as well so they don't get lifted. So if someone wants to help, send $4 or buy some locks to send with the Action Kids this summer.
John Boughton says:
June 5th, 2011 at 8:38 PM
It gives me joy to see this work with bikes bringing glory to God and building relationships.
Bruce Wansart says:
June 13th, 2011 at 2:19 PM
Everytime, a bike goes out to a neighbor kid, its' a witness of God's love from us. It has to be a growth promoter for the branches!
Sandy Banks says:
July 18th, 2011 at 7:11 PM
What a great way to put old bikes, sitting unused in garages everywhere, to good use. I have a bike that I would donate if anyone in the South Bend branch would be interested in fixing it up. I bet if you put the word out, there would be a lot of bikes that people would be willing to donate. May the Lord bless this wonderful way to serve others.
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