Father Joe’s Village has been working in San Diego to help those struggling with housing in the community for 75 years.
They fight this battle in four ways: meeting basic needs, investing in children, providing health care, and building self-sufficiency.
That last effort came to the forefront of my awareness a short time ago, thanks to a program overseen by Deacon John Roberts.
Roberts heads up a Thursday morning cycling club that helps community members gain independence while simultaneously improving their mental and physical health through cycling.
Those who want to participate come together for a 20-mile ride through the city. Father Joe’s provides donated bicycles to those who don’t have one. When participants complete 100 miles of riding with the nonprofit, they are gifted their own bicycle.
Besides the bicycle, the riders are gifted a helmet, a bicycle lock, front and rear lights, and a bag with maintenance tools. They are also taught bicycle safety and maintenance to care for their rides.
The community has partnered with Father Joe’s, uniting resources from the San Diego County Bike Coalition, Rebike San Diego, and the Paydak Racing Team to give back to their community.
If you are in the San Diego area, I encourage you to look at how you can give back to your community through Father Joe’s Village. If you aren’t near San Diego, I encourage you to get involved in making your community a little bit better and stronger.
