We all have seen many community development programs for children that aims to make them better citizens and keep them out of trouble.  Bike Church, run by Ms. Kerri Martin with the support of Holy Spirit Church,  is one such program that makes you go “wow”.  Martin, 37, offers two programs that teach Asbury Park youths job skills such as bicycle mechanics, the value of volunteerism and work ethics. It is a youth earn-a-bike program operating in the community of Asbury Park, New Jersey. The organization website notes that every Monday, between 4pm-7pm,children in middle school and younger come to The Bike Church to learn how to fix bikes, to practice riding, and to learn about safetyissues related to bicycles.

Martin’s idea for the bike church came from a previous job. While living in Brooklyn prior to her move in 2003 to the Shore, Martin worked for Recycle-a-Bicycle in New York City. The program teaches youths bicycle mechanics and offers job and environmental training.

When Martin, a.k.a. the Bike Lady for some in  Asbury Park,  met the Rev. William McLaughlin in 2006 at Holy Spirit Church, she told him about her idea to salvage bicycles and educate children.   He liked the idea and told her she could use the church’s basement, she said. Martin spent a summer cleaning out the basement, and The Bike Church was founded shortly afterword.

With the growing popularity of the program in the community, Kerri and her team had opened, Second Life Bikes, which is for high school age youth.  At Second Life they also learn bike mechanic skills but in more of a structured bike shop environment. After 15 hours of work, they earn themselves a bicycle.  If you would like to donate your time, your old bicycles, parts, and/or helmets, check out the organization’s Website or email to staff@thebikechurch.org for more information regarding donations.

Thanks to my favorite biking website Copenhagenize.com, now I know how bringing bikes and kids together can make a huge difference in the community.   Here are two wonderful videos about Bike Church:

“I loved the idea of rescuing old bikes from the landfill and just giving them a new life,” says  Martin.  Hey anything that keeps the planet green and the kids off the bad things, I am all for it.  Transportgooru salutes Kerri and her team for this inspiring work.  Keep up the good work, Kerri!

(via Copenhagenize.com & App.com)