NORTE TUNEUP

THE POWER OF GIVING

BY BEN BOYCE

I love working on bikes. I enjoy the chance to ignore other distractions and focus on solving textile problems with my hands. Beginning with a bike that doesn’t work well and finishing with a bike that rolls almost effortlessly is pure satisfaction. Our mission demands that we give back. Happy, healthy, strong isn’t only for children and the people who partake in our programs. A happy, healthy, strong community is for everyone. And the one thing I know I can do to help make that happen is to help others ride smoothly. “Why don’t we fix up some bikes for folks who might need it?” This was the suggestion that Gary and I offered during an all-staff planning session in early October. We were brainstorming what Norte might do for Giving Tuesday—a day that encourages people to do good on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

The idea of wrenching for others for a day fired me up, and Norte TuneUp was born. For this inaugural event, we teamed up with Goodwill Northern Michigan to set up a mobile shop at the Carson Square Apartments supportive housing community. When the day ended, we had fixed up over two dozen bikes and given away another 16. We made new friends and shared the opportunity to give back. We also learned the value of true community partnership. For Norte TuneUp, individuals chipped in where they could all in the name of making a difference in the lives of residents of Carson Square Apartments. On that cold day, we brought bikes back to life and provided essential transportation to people who need it most. Norte TuneUp showed how community partnership can bring old friends together to volunteer. It showed the potential of putting our minds together to give back. Community partnership is also local bike shops—all of them—lending us tents for shelter and being there for us all year. It’s volunteer mechanics putting their skills to the test outside the Wheelhouse. It’s Recycle-aBicycle and local legend Don Cunkle recognizing a valuable effort and insisting on representing, despite his own backlog of bikes in need of wrenching. Community partnership is Goodwill Northern Michigan hosting us with hot chili and cornbread. The beauty of it is that what started out as a simple desire to fix up bikes will continue to make a positive impact thanks to all those who donated to support future Norte TuneUps. On Giving Tuesday, Norte also raised nearly $4,000 that we will use to host additional pop-up tune ups in Northern Michigan. I know I’m looking forward to turning more wrenches and getting more bikes running smoothly in 2021.

Norte is fortunate to have countless incredible partner organizations who work with us so that we can do more good in the community through partnership. Thank you, friends. The community is richer when we work together. Here are a few examples from the past year. BIKE+: In the summer of 2020, we expanded our Summer Bike Camp by working with partners to offer campers a full-day experience. With Traverse Area Community Sailing, Parallel 45 Theatre, and Traverse Bay Area Youth Soccer, Norte’s young riders had full, safe days of outdoor activity. This opportunity meant more time spent with friends, and more time off screens. Together, TACS, P45, TBAYS, and Norte made Bike+Kick, Bike+Play, and Bike+Sail happen.

CONSERVATION RESOURCE ALLIANCE: We’re proud to have partnered with the CRA to distribute over 600 seedlings to new homes as part of Plant Grand Traverse. Trees are an essential part of healthy communities. Like walking and rolling, they’re part of solving the climate crisis.

FOOD RESCUE: We were grateful to partner with Goodwill Northern Michigan’s Food Rescue program in rolling out our third successful Cranksgiving in Northern Michigan. This past November, over 50 teams collected 3,000+ pounds of food in Elk Rapids, Suttons Bay, and Traverse City for distribution to area food pantries and community meal sites. SCHOOLS: When our winter programs paused due to the pandemic, we got creative. PE teachers at Grand Traverse Academy and Suttons Bay Schools worked with Norte to create bike lessons using bicycles from Norte’s expanding bike library. Additionally, bikes rolled out to partners across Northern Michigan.

Bicycles lead to freedom, independence, opportunity, and health. We’re thrilled to have partners who share our goal of getting kids moving. Let’s keep it rolling!