Charity Bicycles
The Kellogg Family Foundation helps get wheels to those in need
“As a kid, my bike gave me the freedom to be on my own, and learning to take care of it built my self-confidence.”
— Dr. Thomas Kellogg
Charity Bicycles, a full-service bicycle repair and retail shop at 9903 Weber Street in Brighton, started out with a few bikes in mechanic Dave Wolfe’s garage. With the help of his wife, Judy, and many skilled volunteers, the non-profit has grown exponentially, donating more than 400 bikes in 2022. Free bicycles go to families who can’t afford bikes for their kids, to adults with no other means of transportation, and to many others.
Charity Bicycles works hand in hand with local bike shops that donate late-model customer trade-ins that the agency refurbishes to give away or sell. The success of this mutually beneficial partnership drew the attention of Dr. Thomas Kellogg. In 2022, a major gift established state-of-the-art Kellogg Foundation Repair and Training Centers in Brighton, Flint, and Detroit. These free programs train volunteers to repair bikes to be given away, as well as people who want to learn to fix their own bikes.
Charity Bicycles’ effect is far-reaching. “We work with Livingston County groups who distribute bikes to families, kids in foster care or a shelter, to schools, and to people just released from prison,” Dave Wolfe says. “Wherever there’s a hardship, we try to help.”
Kellogg Family Foundation supported this organization by providing additional repair stations in their Brighton location, helping implement their Flint & Detroit repair stations, and hiring a professional bicycle expert to initiate the program. Most recently, we provided a trailer outfitted to be a mobile repair station.
