Have An Old Bike In The Garage? South Bay Nonprofit Is Accepting Holiday Donations

This November marks the fifth anniversary of Good Karma Bikes, a non-profit organization in the South Bay committed to fostering social impact, community service, self-esteem reparation and second chances.

The organization is now accepting bike donations for the holidays.

Good Karma predominantly serves the unemployed, homeless and disenfranchised transition age youth in the South Francisco Bay area, with additional programs for children and families.

GKB’s mission to provide a path for people — often in some form of recovery — using “Transportation for Transformation,” takes shape in the form of unique programs that help participants learn marketable
job skills and become self-supporting community contributors.

In the five years since its incorporation, the organization has donated thousands of bikes and served more than 12,000 program
participants.

GKB’s work has garnered the support of a number of Silicon Valley’s formative companies and non-profits, including eBay, Google, Cisco, Adobe, Barry Swenson Builder, Xilinx, Intero Foundation, Catholic Charities, Whole Foods, LSI Logic and the City of San Jose.

“We are about change, transformation and second chances. The support of the local community, our partners and volunteers over the past five years has enabled us to make a positive impact in the lives of thousands,” said James Gardner, President of Good Karma Bikes. “I am very excited to add even more programs and Good Karma Bikes alumni in our next five years.”

“Our clients are looking for a means to a better life and that’s what we aim to help them find,” said William Klein, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Managing Partner of Hopkins & Carley Law.

“Good Karma is a phenomenal asset for the South Bay community with a powerful message and great reach, and we are thrilled to be helping them help others,” added Barbara Evers, Community Reinvest Officer with Boston Private Bank & Trust Company, another longtime supporter of GKB.

A multifaceted organization, GKB not only provides safe and reliable bicycles to those in need, but also operates a full-service bike shop open to the public.

The shop is operated by GKB program participants in recovery. These participants work as bicycle mechanics, in retail sales, in customer service or in eCommerce.

Many GKB clients return to work as volunteers, learning bicycle repair skills and helping others. Some client-volunteers have acquired enough experience through GKB’s Certified Bicycle Technician job skills program to begin teaching others, helping create a path to future employment and increased self-sufficiency. All revenues are reinvested in the program.

“I don’t know what I would do without my bike,” says Joseph Matej, a recipient of a Good Karma Bike who still volunteers with the organization. “This is a safe place I can go where there are upbeat people.”

Good Karma Bikes (GKB) is a 501 (c)3 nonprofit providing all community members with safe, reliable bicycle transportation. GKB provides a path for people — often in some form of recovery — to learn/earn marketable job skills, to be self-supporting and to be community contributors.

To learn more and for information on how to support Good Karma Bikes’ community programs, please visit www.goodkarmabikes.org or view and like the Facebook page here.

--Image and info courtesy of Good Karma Bikes.