When the pandemic sent people home from their regular office jobs, Red Bank resident Blake Pierce and a few of his neighbors found themselves on a journey to do something to help.
"It really started as a garage project for several of us," Pierce said in a phone interview. "We saw a need for kids in the area who needed access to bikes, and we started off with just getting a few to fix up, and then the White Oak Bicycle Cooperative was formed and just took off."
Pierce teamed up with friends and neighbors Christian Gonzalez and Andrew Jones, and between the three of them, the cooperative was able to provide more than 170 bicycles to children and adults in need during 2021 thanks to local organizations and bike shops that came alongside the nonprofit organization.
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"In the two short years that we've been in operation, we have donated over 300 bicycles, but more importantly, we've impacted over 300 lives," Gonzalez said in an email. "These bicycles have been utilized to either provide members in our community to have a means of transportation or for children to stay healthy and active."
To celebrate two years of helping, White Oak Bicycle Cooperative is hosting a donation drive at Clever Alehouse, 2122 Dayton Blvd., from noon-6 p.m. Aug. 20. The community is asked to bring in gently used children's and youth bicycles for the nonprofit organization to continue its work providing access to transportation and outdoor recreation.
"Our biggest discovery throughout this journey has been the need for bikes for transportation," Pierce said. "Especially in downtown Chattanooga for the homeless community, that's the main source to get around, and they may not have the support to repair or maintain their bicycles, and we work to do all we can to help with that."
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Volunteers that partner with White Oak Bicycle Cooperative visit many different organizations and shelters in the area to help provide repair and maintenance services. Those destinations include the Community Kitchen, local drug and rehab facilities and more as they reach out and share their needs, Pierce said.
While the nonprofit organization was founded in the Red Bank community and maintains its roots there, it's since grown to serve the greater Chattanooga area, even going as far as Dalton, Georgia, to a shelter with individuals who had transportation needs, Pierce said.
With regard to the donation drive at Clever Alehouse, Pierce said the focus is going to be on children and youth as the cooperative looks ahead to the Christmas season and hopes to replenish its inventory for those in need.
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"We'll take your bikes and dial them up as much as we can," he said. "It's important to us that when we give a child a bike, they don' t even know it's a used bike. We put that quality work into every one we receive so it can last them for a long time."
White Oak Bicycle Cooperative opened a workshop, retail and office space in February of this year, and four locations, serve as regular donation spots, including (be)caffeinated, Red Bank Fire Station #1, Red Bank Recycling Center and Sweat Club, according to a news release.
"As we close out the remainder of 2022, we look forward to continued partnerships with people, businesses and organizations within Red Bank, as we all work together to improve the health and well-being of our community," Pierce said.
To learn more about the White Oak Bicycle Cooperative, visit whiteoakbicycle.org or email contact@whiteoakbicycle.org.
Email Brandi Dixon at bdixon@timesfreepress.com.