Workday Annoucement - Saturday, 8/20, 2-4pm

Just because it is hot outside does not mean that there are still not those out there that need basic transportation.  We are working on trying to clear out as much inventory before Christmas (yes, the end of the year), as we will be doing another ReCycling event with a local elementary school in January.  Last January, we pulled in over 110 bikes!  We have to make room!  So please come out and help prep bikes for our partner charities!  MAM has already put in an order for some women's bikes, and we have a bunch of kids bikes that require very little work.

We are also working on trying to set up our first "spoke" at Clark Martinson's church - St. Mark's Methodist Church in the Heights.  Trucks and a trailer would be very helpful!

Saturday, August 20th, from 2-4pm at Memorial Drive Christian Church.  See you there.

Pay it Forward,
David

The word spreads to Montrose

Here is a great story about how word about Chain Reaction Ministries is spreading.  Larry and Carol Neal are members of Memorial Drive Christian Church.  Their daughter works for Manhattan Construction located over in Montrose.  Their daughter knew about Chain Reaction Ministries through her parents, and saw the opportunity to ReCycle Freedom with a person in need in their area.  The note was written to Jeff Stones, our cornerstone in the repair shop!

Dear Jeff,

Thanks again for helping us replace Mr. Isaac’s bike. Mr. Isaac lives in the storage closet across the street from our office. Every morning he is out watering the plants and waves when we pull in the parking lot. He washes cars and does small clean up jobs for people to make ends meet. His primary transportation was a bike that he saved for and bought at a local pawn shop. Unfortunately, his bike was stolen a few weeks ago, leaving him no way to travel to work or see his sister in the medical center, or his pastor downtown. Thanks to you guys, Mr. Isaac is once again back in business with a new bike. The smile on his face when we gave him the bike was irreplaceable! Thanks again for helping out a friend in need.

Beverly Girgis
Estimator
Manhattan Construction

Basic Transportation Helps MAM Client Get to Work Easier,

Cynthia Guerrero lives near 34th Street and TC Jester and does not have an automobile. Her new job as a Certified Montessori Instructor at Cypresswood Montessori School would have required her to walk over a mile to and from the nearest bus stop to the school.  Thanks to a nicely refurbished bicycle from Chain Reaction Ministries, supplemented by a bicycle helmet and bike lock from Houston Cycling Centres, Ms. Guerrero’s commute will be quicker and more convenient.  “I’m so grateful to MAM and its partners for this bicycle,” said Cynthia. “It will really make a positive difference in my life.”  Cycle2Success is a partnership among the Employment Services program at Memorial Assistance Ministries, Chain Reaction Ministries (a major service project at Memorial Drive Christian Church) and Houston Cycling Centres. The partnership sources donated bicycles, refurbishes them and distributes them to clients who need them to seek work or to commute to and from work.

If you are interested in supporting this project with a donated bicycle, please bring it to Spring Valley Cyclery, 9414 Gaylord, just east of Echo Lane. Or, you can click here to go to the website of Houston Cycling Centres.

Bob King

Associate Director, Employment Services
Memorial Assistance Ministries
1625 Blalock Road
Houston, Texas 77080

A little bit of sunshine. A Story from WHAM

These children were so excited to get the bicycles because theirs were stolen just after Christmas. Someone broke into their apartment and took the few items of value they had of which included the children’s bikes. The mother works as a teacher’s assistant so she struggles to make ends meet. The little boy suffers from a mild case of Autism but is well behaved and the daughter is a smart young lady that makes good grades. The daughter asked if she could ride her bike home instead of putting it in their vehicle but of course mom said no. Thank you for helping WHAM bring a little sunshine to what seemed like a rainy day. We are so fortunate to have a partnership with Chain Reaction Ministries.

Sonya Scott
Director of Client Services
West Houston Assistance Ministries

Story from MAM - Heights to Humble Commute!

If you think you have a commute problem, you should try being Doug Humphrey. Doug lives on N. Shepherd, in the Heights. He works primarily as a caddy at Redstone Golf Club in Humble, Texas. Can you imagine doing that without a car? Doug does.

To get his “loop”, Doug walks a few blocks from his home to pick up the 009 METRO bus on Yale Blvd. He takes it downtown and transfers to the 259 bus to Humble. He gets off that bus at the EastTex Park ‘n Ride at US-59 and Aldine Bender. From here, Doug walks about 3.5 miles to get to his job at Redstone GC.

After Doug completes his round, he re-traces his steps. The 7 miles he walks every day is in addition to the walking he does with two golf bags on his back (an average round of golf is about 5 or 6 miles of walking).

Well, not anymore.

Cycle2Success has made Doug’s commute to work quicker and simpler by donating a bicycle it sourced through Chain Reaction Ministries, a program developed by Memorial Drive Christian Church, one of MAM’s member congregations. With a bicycle to go with his bus pass, Doug cuts out more than half of the daily miles he must walk to do his job.

The bicycle not only shortens his commuting time, it saves his energy for the job. For a caddy, more energy means better customer service and, hopefully, better tips.

Doug has a few words of thanks for MAM’s Cycle2Success program and for Chain Reaction Ministries:

“I would like to thank you for the blessing of this bicycle,” said Doug. “It has allowed me to go back and forth to my job as well to give me more freedom in day-to-day activities. You do not know how much I appreciate the assistance you have given me. You and your ministry will be in my prayers, and if there is anything I can do for you in the future please do not hesitate to ask. God Bless You.”

Pay it Forward, David

MAM - Nick Chandler Success Story

Nick will be a sophomore at Spring Woods High School in the fall. Last summer he participated in the Spring Woods at MAM Summer Jobs Program. The program employs at-risk, rising high school students from Spring Woods Middle School. The goals of the program are: to expose students to a safe and accepting work environment, to model appropriate job skills and behavior, to increase students’ self-esteem and value by payment for work, to foster social skills through a mentoring relationship, to provide a compassionate adult sounding board and to broaden and enhance a sense of community. Last summer Nick interned at MAM 25 hours a week. After gaining job and life skills last summer, Nick expects to obtain employment this summer to help purchase school clothes and contribute to his family’s income. Nick hopes to land his job at Chick Fil-A, which is well known to work with high school students and help with college scholarships.

Nick is 15 and too young to drive, and his single mother works full time to pay the bills. She doesn’t have the work flexibility to leave her job to get Nick to and from his job. Nick has to fend for himself, which would have meant a summer of walking almost 3 miles each way from his apartment off Long Point to Memorial City Mall. He would have the option of taking the bus, although the bus is unreliable, takes extra time and would cost Nick money to ride.

With the bicycle, Nick has the problem solved, and he’ll also be able to use the bike to continue his extracurricular activities like swim team and band. The bike will also allow him to stay at the school after the bus leaves to study in the library or work on homework without younger siblings distracting him.
Pay it Forward,David

Chain Reaction Ministries Featured at City of Houston's National Bike to Work Day Kickoff: May 20

National Bike to Work Day is May 20. That morning, Mayor Annise Parker will be having a press conference at 8:15am at City Hall. After her speech, I have been asked to talk about Chain Reaction Ministries and the lives that have been changed through the simple gift of a bike! I am working on the details (and speech obviously) now - but I would love for all of you to come out and support us! Thanks to Dan Raine at the City of Houston for thinking of us! Stay tuned for more details.

Pay it Forward,

David