ShareThisIt must have been around five years ago when I was working at a food pantry in Madison. Toward the end of work that night I asked Mike, the pantry manager, if there was anything that I could do to help out. "Well John, what these people really need is a job," Mike replied. "If I could do anything to wave a magic wand, it would be to open businesses near this neighborhood."
For the past few years I had been thinking about all the bikes that sit in garages of homes in really nice neighborhoods, not being used, and what it would take to get those bikes into the hands of kids who've never had a chance to own a bicycle. Put those two ideas together and we get Dream Bikes, the used bicycle store we helped open in a underserved neighborhood of Madison. Trek got the ball rolling and the local Boys & Girls Club joined forces to find the right kids.
Three years later we've sold thousands of used bikes to people who need them, and most importantly we have provided around 50 jobs to kids who needed a good job experience, a safe place to work, some money, and a lot of pride in a job well done. The Madison store has been such a success, we opened a store in Milwaukee. Next spring Dream Bikes #3 opens in Chicago. Once again changing the world with the bicycle.
On Monday the 22nd Tania and I are hosting the first annual Bike Drive at the house. Bring your bike to donate and stop by for a brat and a beer from 6-8. Bikes are the life blood of Dream Bikes and Dream Bikes needs bikes!! If you don’t have a bike please join us and make a $25 donation to Dream Bikes. If you can't make it and want to help, send a direct donation to:
DreamBikes - Madison
4245 W. Beltline Highway
Madison, WI 53711
Jb
