Children, adults love ‘Earn-a-Bike’
Children, adults love ‘Earn-a-Bike’
Children, adults love ‘Earn-a-Bike’
Jeremy Tagliaferre (kneeling) poses with youngsters who completed the bicycle safety course.
COURTESY PHOTO
Jeremy Tagliaferre (kneeling) poses with youngsters who completed the bicycle safety course.
COURTESY PHOTO
When Josh got home from school, he ran to his mother and told her that he was getting a free bike. He excitedly explained to her that more than 100 children received free bikes through the “Earn-a-Bike” program at John Wesley United Methodist Church, Falmouth, Massachusetts.
Jeremy Tagliaferre, director of youth ministries, spearheads Earn-a-Bike. He said the program stemmed from the church’s cooperative community bike shop in which 20 to 30 volunteers fix donated bikes and sell them. Volunteers who spend four hours in the shop helping to fix bikes receive the two-wheelers to take home. In 2014, 450 bikes were donated to John Wesley; 150 were given to kids and adults enrolled in the program.
The bike program offers six sessions during the school year and a weeklong training in the summer. Josh and other second- through ninth-graders learn about bike safety, maintenance, fixing flat tires, adjusting brakes, performing emergency stops and caring for various types of bikes. Participants also go for bike rides together and enjoy the outdoors.
“I rely on a bike as my primary mode of transportation,” said Tagliaferre. “This trend is happening around the world.” During his college days, he rode his bike to school. It was faster for him to pedal than to take the bus. “Biking saves money on gas, and it’s great for people who are looking for ways to be healthy,” he said. A few years ago, the youth director biked across the United States in less than two months.
“This program brings hundreds of kids and families to church,” said the Rev. Rebecca Mincieli, pastor at John Wesley. “It’s a way to do church in a less intimidating way, and it’s about relationship building.”
Josh, a program participant, is proud that he learned about bike safety and making simple repairs. The program inspired him so much that he will share his knowledge with others in this year’s program. “This is all a good way to build a cycling community,” said Tagliaferre. “Many people we serve rely on bikes for transportation.”
AT A GLANCE
John Wesley United Methodist Church
270 Gifford St.,
Falmouth, MA 02540-3348
508-548-3050
Rev. Rebecca Mincieli
Average Attendance: 225
New England Conference