COR’S Inaugural ‘Bikes and Blankets Drive’ Collects Donations for Transitions Homeless Center and Cola Town Bike Collective
The results are in! COR’s inaugural ‘Bikes and Blankets Drive’ collected donations of more than 50 blankets and 6 bicycles to benefit Transitions Homeless Center and Cola Town Bike Collective on Tuesday, February 23.
Scoopy Doo Gelato Shop in Five Points hosted the donation drive on its patio, providing space for 11 COR volunteers to collect donated blankets and bikes from local community members. Donors were encouraged to make a purchase at Drip Coffee and Scoopy Doo while learning more about getting involved with COR and volunteering with Transitions Homeless Center and Cola Town Bike Collective.
“We were incredibly excited to partner with Transitions, Cola Town Bike Collective, and Scoopy Doo to make this happen,” said Chase Heatherly, Chairperson of COR. “COR was established to bring people together to serve our community while forging meaningful connections between our members. The Bikes & Blankets Drive enabled us to bring people together in support of local businesses and nonprofits.”
Transitions is the largest homeless center in the Midlands, with more than 260 beds and comprehensive services under one roof than any other organization. While Transitions is able to provide temporary shelter for 260 people each night, more than 95 individuals who spend their daytime hours at Transitions do not have a bed for the night. Blanket donations collected through the Bikes & Blankets drive will be distributed to Transitions’ daytime patrons who will have to sleep outdoors.
The Cola Town Bike Collective is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization of bicycle users whose mission is to educate and empower the community by providing a welcoming space to learn about bicycle repair, engage in maintenance practices, and promote safe operation through outreach and advocacy activities. One way the organization fulfills its mission is through providing refurbished donated bikes to underprivileged segments of the Columbia community at low to no cost. The 6 bikes collected through the Bikes & Blankets drive will go to folks who rely on their bikes for transportation.
“Our next event will be a COR Activate on Tuesday, March 9 at Sweetwater Coffee from 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM. Please join us for some morning coffee and casual networking,” said Chase Heatherly. “This will be a great opportunity to find ways to get plugged into various industries in Columbia, while being COVID-safe.”
