Young Cyclists roll through Coshocton to assist with affordable housing efforts
COSHOCTON – Thirty young adults with Bike & Build Inc., a national non-profit committed to affordable housing, are bicycling into Coshocton and staying at the Colonial Campground and RV Park on their journey across the United States. The cyclists, as part of the Maine to Santa Barbara route, are traveling from Portland, ME to Santa Barbara, Calif. to raise money and awareness for affordable housing causes.
“We are deeply proud that Bike & Build has 300 riders this year who are so committed to the affordable housing cause that they are willing to raise much-needed funds and spend two months of their summer biking across this amazing country,” said Bike & Build’s Senior Director of Operations and Development Justin Villere. “Bike & Build provides the opportunity; it is the riders who make the impact on housing issues through our cycling trips.”
The group will be traveling for more than 10 weeks and will help to build affordable housing in 16 locations, including Pittsburgh, Pa., Columbus, and Dayton. In order to participate in the trip, each rider raised at least $4,500 to help fund the trip costs and affordable housing efforts nationwide.
Bike & Build offers eight cross-country and two regional biking trips each summer. The 18 to 26 year old riders see and experience first-hand the affordable housing need in this country. They stop in towns along their route and participate in construction efforts at affordable housing sites that are in progress. The riders also meet with local officials and community members to discuss affordable housing issues.
Bike & Build riders invite you to join them at the Colonial Campground on the evening of Thursday July, 7 at 5:30 p.m. for a bicycle clinic for children ages 5-14. The entire community is welcome to participate. The clinic will emphasize bike safety and will feature a short ride. B&B will plan a suitable route of a half mile or less. Children should bring a bike and helmet.
Based in Philadelphia, Bike & Build is a non-profit organization that encourages young adults to address the country’s affordable housing crisis through organized bicycle trips. Trip participants support the affordable housing cause by fundraising and building efforts. Since its founding in 2003, Bike & Build has motivated more than 3,000 young adult volunteers and contributed more than $5.8 million and 200,000 volunteer hours to housing groups such as Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together to fund projects in the United States. For more information, visit www.bikeandbuild.org or call (267) 331-8488.
Category: People & Places
