New this year, Madison House is partnering with Charlottesville Community Bikes, a nonprofit used-bike shop that sells bikes, performs bike repairs, and offers bike voucher programs for local children, teens, and adults.
What does a typical shift look like for Madison House volunteers? Zach Harris, a Head Program Director at Madison House, explains that the shifts typically last around four hours on Thursdays. “Volunteers can assist with small bike repairs and help with any social media/advertising projects,” he elaborates. Current volunteer Lauren Hensley explains, “Most of the work we do is stripping donated bikes, which means we take off the brakes, brake cables, pedals, gear systems, and wheels to be rebuilt later. It's a very sustainable process, and it allows the organization to continue their free bike programs.”
Matthew Godek has also been a volunteer since September. His favorite part of volunteering is “meeting the customers that bring in bikes and establishing new friendships with my fellow volunteers and the workers”.
Lauren, on the other hand, enjoys the more technical work that the shifts entail. “I love the puzzle and physical work stripping a bike provides,” she says, “It's tougher than you would think—no two bikes are built the same and a lot of them have extra problems, such as rust or stripped bolts, that make it more challenging to take apart. It's a lot of fun though! Your hands get filthy from grease and dirt, but you know it's from doing hard work.”
The program is very young, with only these two consistent volunteers so far, but Zach explains that it is actually an ideal size for the amount of shifts they currently have. He says, “I'm really hoping this program can continue to grow and that volunteers bond with our partners at the CCB and make great memories!”
Lauren Hensley, Charlottesville Community Bikes Volunteer
Matthew values the “deeper connection between UVA and the local Charlottesville community” that this program forms. Zach also appreciates this bond and points out the broader impact of the volunteer activity, explaining, “To me, this program is important because it not only promotes sustainable living and transportation, but it does so in a way that is accessible to everyone.” Lauren agrees, acknowledging that “getting a reliable form of transportation can be truly life-changing.” Rather than relying on public transportation schedules, long walks, or the bigger financial commitment of a car, a bike helps CCB clients “gain the freedom and independence to set their own schedule.”
Charlottesville Community Bikes has a referral program that provides bikes to those in need at no cost. There is also a bike voucher program that provides bikes at a reduced cost.
Zach explains, “The bike voucher program gives access to families who otherwise might not be able to afford a bike. The refurbished bikes are sold at a considerably reduced price and the bike repair services allow people to use their bikes for longer. CCB doesn't just promote environmentally-friendly transportation, they do so in a way that makes it feasible for everyone.” In fact, Zach notes that the quality of the bikes is wheelie fantastic— he even bought one from Charlottesville Community Bikes during his second year at UVA!
If you have a bike you no longer use, please consider donating it to Charlottesville Community Bikes. For more information about Madison House’s partnership with Charlottesville Community Bikes, email Zach Harris.
By Cecilia Murphy