The New Hope Bike Co-op in Hamilton, Ontario, serves its neighbors with wrenches, tire tubes, and bicycles. Jeff Neven, a driving force behind the initiative, said that, in his view, love of God and neighbor includes offering bike repairs, free use of tools, low-cost parts, and cheap refurbished bikes.
First Christian Reformed Church in Hamilton held a one-day bike repair event that blossomed into a summer-long bike repair shop used by 20 to 40 people daily.
First CRC and New Hope CRC, a new Hamilton church plant, backed the program with private donations. Bethel CRC in Listowel and Ebenezer CRC in Jarvis collected and delivered 100 used bikes. A government grant was used to hire student Sid Slotegraaf, who encouraged a bike culture, built relationships, and developed community partnerships.
Neven said anyone may hang out at the co-op without having to buy anything. The co-op models the belief that all people are valuable, can learn new things, and are able to offer their gifts to the community.
Thanks to the co-op, more Hamiltonians have inexpensive, environmentally friendly transportation and, Neven added, “lives are being changed.”
