Overview
Essential Eats Distributors (EED) has invited Free Cycles to partner with their organization to provide bicycle education and outreach to the isolated community of Heart Butte. EED is a Missoula based nonprofit that works to end food insecurity for Montana's indigenous people in need. On May 14th we will travel to Heart Butte school with stands, tools, parts, and bikes. A combination of Free Cycles staff and volunteers will work for an entire day teaching kids how to fix their bicycle and providing 60 free bicycles for kids in need, partnering with other organizations that EED has recruited.
The Need
"Heart Butte, Montana is located in a remote area of the Blackfeet tribal land. Due to proximity and history, the community has limited resources and services. The life expectancy of a Native American in Montana is similar to that of someone in Sudan, Haiti, or Ethiopia. All of the students enrolled in public schools at Heart Butte are eligible for free and reduced lunch. Approximately 44% of Heart Butte’s population is 18 or younger." *Information from Essential Eats Distributors.
Some action shots of the Building Bikes for the Blackfeet project. 8 hours of fixing kids bikes from over 30 volunteers over two days. Such a good turnout, good teamwork, good food, and good times had by all. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped fix these bikes, despite any previous knowledge or mechanic experience. These bikes will provide freedom, joy, exercise and more to kids in need! A huge thanks to Essential Eats for all the amazing work they do. Their incredible effort in organizing this project is inspiring. We would also like to extend a thank you to The Lewellyn Foundation and Scott Miles for helping cover some of Free Cycles' costs that are associated with being involved in this project.