Riding to Resources
A truck load of bikes gets delivered to AYA Youth Collective, where they’ll be used by youth ages 14-24 who are experiencing housing instability.
On a typical day, you could find 24-year-old Donshay doing some of the things he enjoys the most: riding his bike, working, fixing cars, playing with his son, and spending time with the community he has built at AYA Youth Collective.
A distribution partner of Upcycle Bikes, AYA Youth Collective is a nonprofit dedicated to providing support and services to youth aged 14-24 who are experiencing housing instability. Donshay first connected with AYA in 2016 when a family member referred him to the organization for support. Since then, he’s built relationships with staff, made friends with fellow members, and accessed the resources he needs for himself and his son — resources like transportation.
“I knew I needed a bike when I did not have transportation for work,” Donshay says. “I wanted a bike because getting resources for myself and my son is important.” When Donshay shared this need with his trusted community at AYA, they were able to connect him to a bike from Upcycle Bikes — provided at no cost.
“Having a bike has allowed me to meet other people, teach others how to ride bikes, allow me to continue coming to AYA and receive other resources, and have transportation for employment.”
For Donshay, it’s more than a bike; it’s a tool for building community, getting to work, sharing his love of riding, and pursuing stability for himself and his son. It’s “awesome,” he says. “I love it and still use it every day.”
AYA Youth Collective staff members stand with a refurbished bike from Upcycle Bikes, like the one provided at no cost to Donshay.