OWLS Supports Beltline Bike Shop & city kids

Early last month OWLS ceased the ongoing maintenance and repair of our bike fleet. Oh we will still be doing trail rides and bike expeditions but, because so many of the kids we serve now have their own bikes, it just didn't make sense for me to be constantly doing all the work required to keep two dozen mountain bikes tuned up and ready to hit the trail.

The Beltline Bike Shop in Adair Park has what I think is a very unique program creating a true win-win in their neighborhood. They reward neighborhood kids with a refurbished bike of their own in return for bags of trash collected from the streets and yards around Adair Park in southwest Atlanta. This teaches the youngsters about setting goals and working hard until they achieve them while simultaneously cleaning the area of filth and eyesores. Now, each time one of the bike recipients starts to peddle he remembers the generosity of others and the value of hard honest labor. Beltline Bike Shop is now the owner of the former OWLS bikes - at least until they are earned by some of the very deserving kids they serve.

Here is the story in their words in a shortened edition of their thoughtful thank-you note:

Subj: Thank you for an Amazing Beltline Bike Shop Bike Drive
Hello!!! I wanted to personally thank each and every one of you for your generous hearts! The bike drive was a huge success because people like you followed a God prompt! I know how busy life is, but you paused, said YES and worked with me to make your donation. Thanks again for your precious hearts! I KNOW God is smiling!
Many blessings, Kimberly

Hi Everyone! Tim and I want to thank you for this past weekend and being part of an incredible bike drive, the first of it's kind for us! I'm so excited to share the final results with you! To give you perspective, over the past 16 months, we have been able to give away/invite kids to earn 100 bikes. This past Saturday, 40 families collected 250+ BIKES! We are blown away and blessed by your efforts and the excitement and work that went into the drive. There were 7 or 8 loads taken down on Saturday, full trucks and trailers and countless people who put in hours and hours collecting bikes from neighbors, figuring out how to get them to the church and then to the shop, blowing up tires and keeping it all organized. The shop is stocked to the brim! One cool story came Saturday afternoon as the collection team was figuring out how to get an extra trailer--already full--to the city with no one lined up to pull it. A dad, who had just dropped his son off at middle school bandpractice, walked up and offered to drive it down! What an amazing God provision, hours before the Saturday night service was set to begin! I heard great stories of families getting to serve together with their kids and the conversations that ensued about fellow kids who might not have a bike otherwise. We think it's pretty cool that bikes are so tangible to young kids and a great conversation starter about compassion and caring for neighbors. I hope you got to have similar conversations with your kids as well!

We always welcome you to remember us in your prayers when it comes to mind. :) Thank you again! It was a blessing working with you on this project!
Becky and Tim O'Mara

Find out more about this amazing program at the links below:

http://beltlinebikeshop.com/
http://twitter.com/beltline_bike
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=154586431468