Greenwood Police Chief Pitcher

First of this Type Charity

Police donate bicycles to charity

Inmates learn skills and

help a child receive a bicycle

 

 

  Greenwood Police Chief Pitcher.................

 asks and received permission from the city to donate confiscated and adbandoned bicycles to “Shifting Gears Program”.

    The city normally would send such items to Christy’s auction. The return was not much and often cost more to transport to the auction than the revenue it generated.

   With the approval of the city and on a continuing basic the Police department can place bikes in the program on a continual basic. The results will be fair better for those who need a bike and also for the inmates who needs s sense of doing something good, although they may be in prison.

     Shifting Gears started at the Pendleton Correctional Facility in Feb. 2006 and has since been modeled at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City. The purpose of the program is to obtain used bicycles through donations for repair, renovation and distribution to under-privileged children and others in need. The program also serves to provide meaningful work opportunities for offenders and prepare them for a successful re-entry into the community.

    J. David Donahue, former commissioner of the Indiana Department of Correction: "This program not only helps reclaim bicycles and place them with children who need them, it also gives the offenders an opportunity to develop useful job skills that could improve their chances of becoming productive citizens upon their release from prison."

Ed Buss, commisioner of Indiana Department of Correction and former superintendent of Indiana State Prison, Michigan City: "This is not only a good re-entry skill program, but it teaches inmates how to be a good citizen."

   The Shifting Gears program is a partnership, between Bicycle Garage Indy, Volunteers of America and the Indiana Department of Correction.

 

How the program Works

Used bicycles are donated through Bicycle Garage Indy to the Shifting Gears program. Bicycle Garage Indy has received and donated a total of 1600 bikes (through November 2008) to the Shifting Gears program since its involvement began in August 2006. Volunteers of America issues tax-deductions for the donated bikes. Under the direction of Indiana Department of Correction staff, inmates learn to repair bicycles and get a sense of accomplishment. The program provides inmates with a job and helps build self-worth. Through this program, inmates also gain something they likely didn’t have when they arrived in prison: the opportunity to be good citizens and give back to the community.