Bicycle related help for the homeless needed!!

KO Kevin

2007-01-08

I am resending this because we really need your assistance. Even a
little bit will help!

Now that the cold, wet weather is really here, please take some time to
consider the plight of some of the less fortunate members of our
community. I am assisting with Project Homeless Connect for Lane
County, which is a one-day event to provide a variety of services for
homeless and at-risk persons and families in the Eugene-Springfield
metropolitan area (including Veneta, Cottage Grove, Pleasant Hill and
Junction City). The event will be held at the Lane Events Center on
Thursday, February 8, 2007 from 9am to 3pm. For more information,
please logon to www.unitedwaylane.org
and click on the Project Homeless Connect link. We are expecting to
serve 600-800 homeless guests at this event.

I work as a Housing Specialist for the City of Springfield, and I ride
for the EWEB team. I am the logistics planner for the event and I am
also putting together a "Wheels Service Area" at the Project Homeless
Connect event where homeless persons can get their bicycles repaired and
made safe free of charge. For many of the homeless, a bicycle is their
primary mode of transportation. These bicycles are heavily used. Most
of the bicycles are in some state of disrepair, needing things like new
tubes and tires, chains, brake pads, platform pedals and saddles. Here
is where I need the help of the OBRA community. I am soliciting
donations of tubes and tires (mainly 26", some 27"), platform pedals and
other items. We need supplies such as tubes of grease, chain lube, shop
rags, and hand cleaner. We also need cash donations to purchase items
we can't get donated. I am also looking for some competent bike
mechanics that are willing to donate a few hours of their time to work
the service area during the PHC event. Mechanics will be performing
only basic repairs such as changing tires and tubes, minor wheel truing,
derailleur adjustments, brake adjustments, minor bearing adjustments and
other repairs necessary to make the bike safe and ride-able. Mechanics
should have their own tools and repair stand. We will be providing
parts and supplies, a compressor and truing stand as well as some tools.

If you are interested in donating parts and supplies, please send them
to me at:

Kevin Ko

1210 Risden Place

Eugene, OR 97404

If you would like to make a cash donation, send a check made payable to:

United Way of Lane County, PHC

3171 Gateway Loop

Springfield, OR 97477

(Please write "Wheels Service" in the memo area of your check)

If you are interested in volunteering as a mechanic, or if you would
like more information, please contact me at kko@ci.springfield.or.us or
541-726-2302.

There are many other opportunities to assist with this meaningful event.
You can find more event and volunteer information by going to
www.unitedwaylane.org and clicking on
the Project Homeless Connect link.

I hope that the OBRA community will support this community event.

Kevin Ko

Housing Programs Specialist

(541) 726-2302

(541) 741-2763 fax

Development Services

City of Springfield

225 Fifth Street, 97477

http://www.ci.springfield.or.us