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 breathe new life into used 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.
The Bike Build works as a part of Westside Community Center’s STEM Program teaching youth in our community how to build and care for their own bike. Students are given a used bike and over the course of our 6-week Bike Build Program are taught how to strip it down and rebuild a new bike with their own hands. The goal of this program is to provide new skills, build self-confidence, and provide students with the opportunity to own a bike!
Meet C…
“I was a single mom on a low income. I had 3 kids; 2 girls and 1 boy. All my children had mental health issues due to their father's verbal and emotional and sometimes physical abuse. My middle daughter and son each spent time in an in-patient mental health facility. They dealt and still deal with severe anxiety and depression. i didn't have the money to spend on really anything other than our necessities. My middle daughter was an emotional cutter starting at age 11. During my son's darkest depression he wouldn't/couldn't get out of bed, didn't shower, troubling thoughts. he was about 13 at the time. We had a team from Child and Family Focus in Warrington come out for counseling and help. They provided us with bikes for each of the kids. They were so happy. I was so happy. This gave them some freedom to ride with their friends who had bikes. We live in the middle of a town, so walking to everything is the usual fare. But a bike offers freedom to go further and just plain ride. They used their bikes alot. They are older now (20s) and really don't use the bikes. I am hoping that someone who's situation is less than ideal and put these bikes to good use. They really helped us and I am hoping they really help someone else.”
Updates
We are thrilled to report that our Giving Bikes Back program provided 519 bikes as of May 2024 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.
3. …As a translator: Individuals who speak English and Spanish are needed 1-2 times a year to translate for families who come to our Bike Giveaways.
Please let us know of your interest in any of the above by filling out a volunteer interest form (click here) or 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.
