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HOMELESS STRUGGLE TO FIND JOBS Micah raising money to send homeless man to bike school Date published: 6/22/2009
BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE Cruising down a hill at 25 mph, a bicycle in good condition sings. But a bike needing repairs creaks, groans and clicks. A good bike mechanic knows how to hear the signals, said Nat as he rotated the gears on a bike at Micah Ecumenical Ministries' hospitality house in downtown Fredericksburg. If such a thing existed, Nat would be a bike whisperer. With his ear to the mechanism he turns the parts, listening to the clicks until he knows what's wrong. A few times each month, people stop by the homeless day center and leave bikes for Nat to fix. And as he tightens spokes, realigns frames, shifts gears and attaches baskets, the homeless man also works toward his dream. Nat hopes to one day own his own bike shop, a business that would employ homeless people trying to get back on their feet. People like Nat. Four years ago, he lost his job as a truck driver. He became homeless soon after, and traveled the country, finding short-term jobs. Nat always loved bicycles, and rode cross-country through most of his four-year journey. In Philadelphia, he found a new passion at a FreeCycle shop, where customers could earn recycled bike parts by doing chores. Nat built a bike, which he rode south, ending up in Fredericksburg. He found Micah, a coalition of Fredericksburg churches helping the homeless. "They've helped me keep my dignity here," he said. Nat soon became an active Micah volunteer, participating in the ministry's Giving Back program--volunteering more than 140 hours cleaning bathrooms at Micah, mulching for downtown businesses and helping the ministry renovate a Fredericksburg building. "This is an individual who has participated in every level of service we have," said Micah director Meghann Cotter. "For that reason, we want to support him in whatever way we can and if we can give him any leg up, we want to do that." So when Nat approached Micah staff with a brochure for the United Bicycle Institute in Ashland, Ore., they wanted to find a way for Nat to achieve his dream. Without the institute's certification, he could probably find a job at a bike shop somewhere. But he'd never have much opportunity for growth, Nat said. He thought if he could get the credentials from the Oregon school, he could manage a shop. And one day, own one. But at $4,000, the tuition, hostel lodging and bus tickets were way out of his price range. So Cotter decided to help Nat raise the money. Micah is collecting donations for what leaders call Trails of Hope. They point to Nat's willingness to serve and his plans to return to Fredericksburg, open a bike shop and hire disadvantaged people as employees. "Homeless people have dreams, too, and this is just one way we're trying to help one meet that dream," Cotter said. Amy Flowers Umble: 540/735-1973
Date published: 6/22/2009
You don't know this person's medical history (perhaps he is unable to drive anymore due to physical limitation). Maybe he's follow a lifelong dream. Since you don't know the "completely story", try not to be so judgmental.
I work in trucking and know that the demand for drivers is very high, and has been for some time. Theres a reason why he isnt driving anymore.
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