CommuniCycle is a non-profit organization in Aliquippa that me and my ICO team got to help serve with during our spring break. They collect “used bikes and bike parts to repair and refurbish and give to those who don’t own a bicycle, particularly children.” I really liked serving with them during my ICO trip because I learned a lot about sales. When a kid is picking out a bike, the volunteers don’t hand the kid any bike, but they ask them questions on what they are looking for and what they would like in a bike. Some factors include the height of the kid, the kid’s favorite color, and what specific type of bike they want. If the volunteers just handed the kid any of the bikes they had in stock, the kid might not even use or ride the bike. CommuniCycle was also focused on selling impact and change in their community. When we talked to the founder, we learned how he started this non-profit in 2011 and how over the years it’s still going strong. The founder saw a need in Aliquippa after many people needed bike repairs and when he saw so many kids without bikes. Selling the idea of free bikes was a hard concept at first because it seems to have a catch attached to it, but soon people around Aliquippa caught on to what CommuniCycle was trying to do in their area. CommuniCycle have also sold their services and bikes to many different non-profits around the Aliquippa area to help impact more people. The other non-profits that they have partnered with were sold to the idea of giving bikes away to people in need and saw how this one act can make a difference in someone’s life. I also liked how CommuniCycle have also seen the importance of buoyancy and learning how to keep afloat after all these years.
Biz in the Valley: Communicycle expands with new Monaca building & more
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