The Colorado College Prison Project hosted the Save the Bike Clinic Carnival this past Saturday, Oct. 24. It involved raffles, free food, games, and music, with the hope of raising funds and awareness for Bike Clinic Too, a local charity that gives bikes to Colorado Springs’ homeless community.
Senior Bekah Adair, the organization’s president, said that she heard about the clinic during one of the Prison Project’s dinners at a Colorado Springs transition home. The residents of the house “were saying how a bike clinic that’s run out of a garage next to them is about to close, and it means a lot to them because they volunteer there and it’s a cool way for them to give back to the community.” Adair, along with senior Jane Finocharo, another member of the Prison Project leadership team, decided this was a cause they could support.
Bike Clinic Too accepts donated bikes and parts that are generally in poor condition. Volunteers at the clinic, which include residents of the transitional home, help repair and build bikes. They then give these bikes, for free, to people experiencing homelessness, “so that they can use them to get to work, find food and shelter, and provide for their families,” said Finocharo.
These bikes are crucial to the homeless community. “It seems so simple, but it’s such a life changer,” said Finocharo. “If you can ride your bike five miles to work, you can keep a job. It’s an amazing tool for those experiencing homelessness.” However, these bikes are more than just a vehicle for helping people get jobs. They are a means of integration into the community. “These bikes are a way of being a part of society, because when you’re stuck in one place, you’re so removed,” explained Adair, “There’s movement everywhere and the bikes allow these people to be a part of Colorado Springs.” The clinic has stories of people coming back and saying how transformative the bikes have been for them. They call it the “Miracle House.”
Bike Clinic Too also has a relationship with the penal system, which is the main focus of the Prison Project. “Homelessness and the prison system are very connected,” Adair pointed out. “Homeless people are very susceptible to being arrested or fined, and many people who are released from prison become homeless because they don’t have a place to go.”
“At least some of the people who volunteer at the bike clinic have recently been released from prison and live in a transitional home, so this experience is awesome for them,” added Finocharo. “It’s a way for them to give back to the community. It also gives them skills that will serve them well when getting a job.” “Like patience,” adds Adair. “Apparently some of the people that come asking for bikes are not very pleasant. So it helps them develop people skills and the tools to deal with difficult situations.”
Bike Clinic Too is located at 737 W. Monument St. You can find it on Facebook under the name Bike Clinic Too, as well as donate to the organization at www.gofundme/bikeclinictoo. The current goal is to raise $5,000, which will keep the clinic open for a year.
Upcoming programs for the Prison Project include a prison tour and tutoring at a juvenile detention facility. There will also be discussions with former inmates and a dinner at a transitional house on Nov. 8.
Abe Lahr
Latest posts by Abe Lahr (see all)
- Spring Cleaning: New Businesses Opening Downtown – Mar 6, 2016
- Jeff Verhey Makes CC Livable – Feb 20, 2016
- Meet the Men Behind Your Sushi – Feb 5, 2016