Last year in June, our local biking enthusiast nonprofit committed to providing workable bikes to all who want them, The Spoke Folks, found itself in an odd position.
In a shop on the westside of Grand Rapids, this tiny bike shop that prides itself on helping people connect with a workable bike and at the right price suddenly was without bikes. All the bikes that they prepped for the summer of 2015 were suddenly sold out by the end of June. As they scrambled to find folks to donate old bikes, they only were able to sell 132 by the end of last year, with lots of folks waiting and wanting.
This year, as a part of a new and very aggressive 1,000 Bikes campaign, The Spoke Folks hope to ensure that those who want a bike are able to get one.
To kick off the campaign, over the next four Sundays our East Hills neighborhood business and local B-Corp Brewery Vivant will dangle an offer of a free beer — a delicious carrot incentive served up in a glass — to get people to help The Spoke Folks make its goal.
“If we have any chance of meeting the very real and growing needs of our community to secure a bike, then we are to need more bikes,” says Jay Niewiek, Executive Director of The Spoke Folks.
And while Niewiek doesn’t expect that they will hit that goal on day one, he is quite certain that this year we will see all 1,000 bikes come in before the campaign’s October deadline.
The Spoke Folks guarantee that each bike they refurbish and sell is a quality bike that is completely road worthy. As a reminder, all bike donations are tax deductible. You will receive a slip much like you do at Goodwill with each donation.
Admission: Free to contribute in any way.
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