So last Thursday we, with an additional 20 Messiah College Students, went out to volunteer at Harrisburg Recycle Bicycle for service day. Some of us had no experience with bike repair, others, like myself, had several years worth. Ross Willard, the guy who runs the operation was very helpful, always available to answer questions and teach. He also talked about ways in which we can use bicycle maintenance as a missions tool. What an awesome day!
What does Recycle Bicycle do? They fix kids bikes for free, primarily concerned with safety, and give out new bikes. Recycle Bicycle gives inner city kids opportunities not only to have a safer form of recreation, but also to develop mechanical skills. The bikes that Ross and his group receive are all donations. The bikes that they can’t give to kids they either give to adults for commuting to and from work, or they ship them overseas through organizations like Bikes not Bombs and Pedals for Progress. These organizations allow people in Africa and other countries to learn mechanical skills and personally invest in a sustainable and efficient form of transportation (they basically build their own bikes).