Columbia Standard

City of Columbia issued the following announcement on April 4.

The Leadership Columbia Class of 2022 (LC22) is pleased to announce its Bike & Lock drive in partnership with Transitions Homeless Center. Throughout the month of April, LC22 will be working to secure donations of bicycles, locks, and helmets. The goal of the campaign is to provide Transitions clients with access to free, safe, and reliable bicycle transportation.

Donations can be made via Transitions’ Amazon Wish List. All donations will be shipped directly to Transitions and distributed to clients by Transitions staff. The facility’s internal courtyard already includes a storage rack and bicycle repair station for client use. LC22 aims to supply Transitions with 15 new bicycles and many more helmets and bike locks through the Bike & Lock campaign.

“We are excited that Leadership Columbia is helping Transitions’ clients to own bicycles,” said Craig Currey, President/CEO of Transitions. “Bikes enable our clients to go further off the bus lines to find employment.  The helmets and locks protect our clients and their new bicycles.  Having the bikes opens more job opportunities and choices for our clients’ employment.  Thanks to LC22 for doing this great program and for helping improve job opportunities in Columbia.”

The Bike & Lock campaign is just one facet of LC22’s ongoing class project at Transitions. The scope of the project also includes installation of a basketball court and reconstruction of garden beds in the existing courtyard. LC22 will also paint the Day Center and develop training materials to support the Day Center’s workforce readiness initiatives. New paint, indoor planters, and acoustic treatments will enhance a sense of calm in the Adult Day Care Center. Local businesses provided all materials for the project as in-kind donations.

“Our overarching goal for the Bike and Lock drive is to help Transitions clients even after our class project is over,” said LC22 Project Lead Nic Collins. “Our class is witnessing firsthand the dedication of the Transitions staff and the fortitude of Transitions clients. We’re honored to support Transitions in fulfilling its mission even beyond the walls of the facility.”

To donate a bike, lock, or helmet to Transitions, use the link here: https://amzn.to/36NZqBp

 

About Leadership Columbia

Leadership Columbia is an educational program offered through the Columbia Chamber. The 10-month program provides emerging and existing leaders in the Midlands area with an opportunity to enhance their civic knowledge and network. For over 40 years, Leadership Columbia has helped participants better understand the local community, while building relationships with the region’s current and future leaders.

For more information on Leadership Columbia, visit www.columbiachamber.com/leadership-development/ or contact Leah Kelly, Director of Leadership Development, at 803.733.1146.

About Columbia Chamber

The Columbia Chamber is a private, non-profit, partner-driven organization comprised of 1,200 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions and individuals in Calhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry, and Richland counties. The Columbia Chamber serves as the voice of its Partners and the business community at large on matters of economic, educational, social, cultural, and political concern, as well as supports and promotes the success of its partners through networking, professional development, advocacy, and leadership. The organization has represented the interests of the local business community since 1902.

To become a Partner or to learn more about the Columbia Chamber, as well as its events, programs, and initiatives, visit www.ColumbiaChamber.com.

About Transitions

Transitions Homeless Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to engage and equip homeless adults of the Midlands to transition into stability and permanent housing. Various strategies and types of housing are used to help stabilize individuals living on the street and enroll them in services designed to improve their lives, increase their income, and help them secure permanent housing.

The organization is the Midlands Largest Homeless Center providing homeless men and women ages 18 and older access to our day center, hot meals, showers, service providers and housing.

Transitions serves the following counties: Richland, Lexington, Fairfield, Chester, Lancaster, Newberry, York, Calhoun, Orangeburg, Bamberg, Allendale, Barnwell, and Aiken. Client referrals are ONLY accepted from local partnering agencies.

For more information about Transitions, contact Elise Burrows, Community Outreach and Event Coordinator via email at eburrows@transitionssc.org.

Original source can be found here.