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Bike & Build w Rachel Hirsch

Returning 2013 Intern Rachel Hirsch, this time with Bike & Build

2015 Bike & Build – Pedaling for Affordable Housing!

Earlier this summer two groups consisting of sixty-one dedicated young adults embarked on a life-changing journey with the Bike & Build Organization. The first group of cyclists left Nags Head, North Carolina on May 16th and the second group departed from New Haven, Connecticut on June 13th. Each team rides cross-country, while staying in multiple communities with a mission to assist and enable affordable housing efforts throughout the nation. To-date, these two Bike & Build Teams have raised a total of $328,425.00 to benefit affordable housing. Chaffee County is a designated build stop by each of these groups. Each team rode into the valley with the purpose of assisting Habitat for Humanity in providing decent, affordable housing in our community. Their hard work, compassion and dedication to the affordable housing cause are greatly appreciated and admired throughout the United States.

The North Carolina to San Diego group descended into Buena Vista on July 2nd after getting caught in a bone-chilling thunder and hail storm while traveling from Colorado Springs. The team appreciated the delicious pizzas prepared by Dominos, as well as the comfortable accommodations at the United Congregational Church. At 8:00am on July 3rd the group arrived at the Johnson Village project to report for work. Since the Blitz Build site had a few final punch list items, part of the group traveled to Nathrop, while the remaining workers stayed in Johnson Village to assist local volunteers with taping/texturing the drywall and installing roof shingles. The Nathrop crew worked on flooring and final punch list items. After the work day, the Bike & Build Team attended a community Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser prepared by Gordon Lacy. They truly enjoyed the sites and stores in Buena Vista and spent their final evening at the United Congregational Church. In the early morning of July 4th, the riders packed-up and headed towards Gunnison and will continue west before concluding their trip in the San Diego sunshine on July 24th.

The Connecticut to San Francisco Bike & Build team rode into Salida on July 28th with the purpose of assisting Habitat for Humanity in providing decent, affordable housing in Chaffee County. The group arrived in Salida on Tuesday evening; they enjoyed a deliciously-prepared soup dinner and accommodations at the First Lutheran Church, as well as showers and swimming at the Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center. On July 29th, the team worked with local volunteers at the project site on Crestone Avenue; they placed patio pavers and painted the storage sheds. Following their laborious build-day, the group stayed a second evening at the First Lutheran Church and again, they greatly appreciated their lodging accommodations and amenities of the Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center. The cyclists departed for Montrose, Colorado during the early-morning hours of July 30th with the goal of reaching their final destination of San Francisco, California on August 24th.

Both Bike & Build teams enjoyed their time in Chaffee County and appreciated the hospitality they received from our community. We, at Chaffee County Habitat for Humanity, would especially like to recognize the North Carolina to San Diego and the Connecticut to California Bike & Build Teams, Lois Hansen for preparing delicious, homemade dinners on both evenings in Salida, the Salida First Lutheran Church for the comfortable accommodations, The City of Salida Recreation Department for sponsoring showers and swimming for the group, Antero Septic for the Portable Toilet, Cornerstone Church for the awesome breakfast burritos on the day of departure, Spoon It Up for providing a variety of their specialty baked breads, Dominos of Buena Vista for donating use of their pizza warmer, as well as the Chaffee County Habitat for Humanity Board members, local volunteers, interns and staff. This event was a success because of the hard work, generosity and support of our local community.

If you would like to apply for the 2016 Habitat Home, please contact Chaffee County Habitat for Humanity at 719-395-0482 or stop by our office at 27951 County Road 319 in Buena Vista. The application deadline for the 2016 Chaffee Habitat for Humanity Build Season is August 31st, 2015.

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