Stories from the DCEH Bike Program

St. Olaf gave a bike to a man who is working with a case worker through Our Savior’s. He is using the bike as part of a physical therapy plan prescribed to him by a doctor and to get to AA meetings.

St. Olaf gave a bike to a man who is working a variety of part-time jobs right now, such as window cleaning, gardening, painting and other ‘handyman’ services in Minneapolis and St. Paul.  He is a very hard worker, and has been hired by a number of parishioners in the past.  The bike will assist him  in trying to maintain employment which will in turn allow him to keep his housing and work on sobriety.

A member of Central and a dedicated volunteer was given a bike. He will use the bike to get to work at People Serving People where he has been working for a while.

Tarcicio is currently working with temp agencies and painting companies around the Twin Cities.  Right now he has a painting job near 60 and Bloomington Ave. and having a bike will really help him get around.  He has also just recently found out that he has diabetes and is supposed to do more regular exercise, so the bicycle will help with that.

Rick is currently working at Salvation Army at 900 N. 4^th Street and needs help with affordable transportation. Rick is in a work release program, and currently lives at a group residential housing.  The bike will especially help him get to work and keep his job.

Chad is taking classes at MCTC and also stays active attending drop-in centers, such as Lighthouse, for persons with mental illness.Chad has a very limited income, and a bicycle will help him get to classes, AA and the drop-in center.

Darrell will use the bike to get to his new job in Hopkins.  He currently uses a very old bike that he puts on a bus and then rides when he gets close to his work place. He currently lives in a half-way house, but is planning to move in with his daughter. He feels that riding a bike is healthy for him and gives him peace of mind.

“Here is what Charlie wrote:  “It will help me exercise after undergoing chemo therapy for cancer recovery.  It will help me to complete my necessary errands, appointments.  I live on GA and do not have money for the bus.  Thank you.”  He was homeless and staying in shelters or living on the streets for two years. He then went to House of Charity and participated in their chemical dependency program for 7 months.  He got section 8 and now lives in an apartment.  He was going to school at the American Indian OIC for a Nursing Assistant certification when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.  For 11 months he had chemo and surgery.  He had to quit school during this time due to fatigue, etc.  Now he is done with treatments and volunteering at Abbott Hospital (where he also goes for counseling) and in the senior building where he lives.   He used to ride a bike and is looking forward to using this as his mode of transportation!  I think he is a good candidate because he seems motivated to stay healthy and get more involved in the community and eventually start work again.
…I am currently taking classes at the hospital and sometimes it gets difficult for me to catch the bus. The DCEH Bicycle Program will help me make my doctors appointments on time and encourage physical exercise which is apart of my treatment program.  Additional goals I have is participating in community support programs and volunteering.  It would be very helpful for me to achieve self –sufficiently with a bicycle because I will be able to participate effectively with my Day Treatment program and community support programs as well.