WEST LINN, Ore. — Two local nonprofit groups are working together to provide alternative transportation for veterans by breathing new life into forgotten bicycles.
Reborn Bikes and G.I. Junk Removal Redeploy are turning one person’s trash into another’s treasure.
Veteran Matthew Calhoun started G.I. Junk Removal to prevent junk and debris from filling up landfills.
When he realized a lot of the junk could be repurposed including hundreds of bicycles. He reached out to Reborn Bikes, a nonprofit bike refurbishing business with five locations in the greater tri-county area.
The group works on all bikes — even giant tricycles.
“They are rarely in great condition,” said Calhoun. “A lot of times, they are left outside in this PNW weather. They're rusty messes."
The messes Calhoun spoke of now look shiny and new, thanks to the staff and volunteers at Reborn Bikes.
Mechanic Justin McKeown showed off a sparkling specialized bike, which he had to break down into pieces and rebuild.
“I am proud of this one,” he said.
Volunteers behind the scenes help organize hundreds of bikes donated to Reborn Bikes West at its West Linn warehouse on Blankenship Road.
They say G.I. Junk Removal Redeploy has donated nearly 200 bikes in the past year.
“A lot of times the veterans come to us with their entire families,” said Christina Fisher, Reborn Bike’s development director. “So we can give bikes to the entire family and now we've created a family activity that’s a way for them to engage together, too.”
Whether it's a dusting off and a polish — or a major overhaul, McKeown said the bikes are usually repairable.
“You can see the vets really appreciate it,” he said. “They always want to do for someone else, but they need it [a bike] too.”
“You never know what's going to happen, what kind of doors it's going to open for them.”