Year 1 2023: In the summer of 2023, WAIM staff and volunteers began a bike drive to collect, check for safety, and distribute youth and adult bikes to the people in the Windham Region through their case management basic needs program to help fill the transit gap. WAIM's Bike Drive collected and distributed over 40 adult and youth bikes in the summer of 2023.

Year 2 2024: In the summer of 2024, we expanded the program to partner with community groups to collect bikes, including CT State Community College QV Campus, UConn, and WAIM member congregations. WAIM's Bike Drive collected and distributed approximately 75 bikes the summer of 2024

Year 3 2025: After the summer of 2024, the team decided to increase capacity and work through the year.

Funding and Increased Capacity: In the fall of 2024, we applied for and were awarded a CT DOT Microgrant to purchase a set of dedicated tools and over 100 locks and helmets to distribute in the summer of 2025, increasing bike safety and protecting bikes from theft. This funding is limited and does not allow for any infrastructure.  

• Bike Donations Increased: In the winter of 2024/2025, we created a partnership with Bikes for Kids in Essex to donate their surplus adult bikes. They started with a 45-bike donation in January 2025.

• Referrals from Other Organizations: With the Bikes for Kids influx, we reached out to the Project Hope shelter in Willimantic to begin client referrals for bikes. In the first month, April 2025, 5 Project Hope clients received bikes.

•  Program Formalization: In the winter of 2024/2025, we renamed the program Bikes for Windham @ WAIM to better describe the program. We created a dedicated space as a “bike shop” on the fifth floor of WAIM, including adding new windows and a door. We will be offering small bike checks when mechanics are working on bikes on Wednesdays. We also created an intake form to learn about the needs and uses of people requesting bikes.