This is an Earn A Bike program, not a “give a bike” program. The men and women have to volunteer to earn their bikes and everyone has to buy a lock at cost, $5. Earn a Bike was started in 2015 by LVBC member Scott Shreve. Volunteers work out of donated warehouse space thanks to the generosity of E&E MetalFab. Inc,’s owners. The program provides 30-50 bikes per year. Volunteers make it all possible. No experience needed.
Bikes are provided by Appointment Only, which helps to keep the numbers manageable. Clients come from the Lebanon County Rescue Mission, Jubilee Ministries, the VA and in 2019 LCCM’s Fresh Start Program was added. The shop operates on the 4th Saturday of the month, March thru November. On the Wednesday before the 4th Saturday, volunteers have a “prep” night, to take on bigger projects and get some bikes ready. A typical Saturday session involves setting up the work tables, greeting the clients, helping them select a bike, working on bikes together, putting on reflectors, making sure the brakes work and tires hold air, taking the bikes for a spin, buying a lock, completing the registration form, getting their photo taken with the registration form, and providing safety instruction (e.g., ride with traffic). Success stories include a 400 pound guy who went on to lose 100 pounds and volunteered at Earn a Bike. A Rescue Mission guy who steel wooled/polished his bike and made it immaculate and showed it with pride. A Rescue Mission guy who now lives in senior housing and volunteers at LCCM and, of course, rides his bike everywhere. In 2019, Earn a Bike provided a bike for our first woman and for our first double amputee (both from the VA) It was also great to learn that a young man from the Fresh Start Program was highlighted in a news article – “Besides food, clothing and shelter, LCCM provided the resources to help Jesse get a bicycle so he could commute to a job in