This week has been absolutely chock full of congratulations and smiles and taking home bikes and computers — that’s because a total of 88 St. Louis-area children and teens successfully completed one of our free, six-week-long programs over the past six days!

Nine different groups across the bi-state met with our dedicated staff and volunteer BWorks instructors for their final lessons, and the excitement was palpable, from our north St Louis City to south City partner locations and from Hazelwood to Edwardsville (shout out to ACT and its Community Action Grants for funding our Lincoln Middle and Columbus Elementary cohorts this fall!) … and of course right here in Soulard!

The weather was wonderfully cooperative on the bike side of things as these crews were able to fit lots of great riding in. And we even had two more Learn-To-Ride students return for even more practice this afternoon to close out this beautiful week. Please enjoy just a few scenes from this week, and happy holidays to you.

Friends Friday! We have to give a huge shout-out to our donors who continue to show up for our youth in big and small ways. One of our supporters recently heard our call to replace some aging, well-loved tools in the shop and classroom—and stepped up without hesitation.

These tools aren’t just equipment. They’re what our students use to learn hands-on skills, and what our staff and volunteers use to refurbish so many bikes.

We’re incredibly grateful for donors who listen, respond, and invest in the day-to-day needs that keep our programs moving forward. Thank you for helping us put better tools in young and old hands and for helping build stronger futures.

Several staff and volunteers had the chance to check out a new trail today with some incredible kids in the Earn-A-Bike program, through a partnership between BWorks and the International Institute of St. Louis.

This youth partnership came together for two reasons: 1. We wanted to offer support as IISTL has faced major funding cuts, and 2. We kept hearing concerns that young people were receiving bicycles for transportation without helmets, locks, lights, or the essential knowledge of how to use any of it safely.

Now, these kids get the full package — refurbished donated bikes, new helmets, bright lights, secure locks, and 12 hours of hands-on instruction to help them ride confidently and safely.

They were doing so well today that instead of staying in a parking lot practicing drills, as would be normal on this particular week of class, they got to take a full five-mile ride through multiple neighborhoods, putting their new skills to use even as they look toward more guided riding with our team still to come.

When they go low, we go high.

Our dedicated teachers guided 11 groups of BWorks students in a wide variety of Earn-A-Bike, Earn-A-Computer and Learn-To-Ride lessons this week. Much of that learning and fun took place at local schools and at our headquarters, and still other sessions brought us to Vitendo4Africa and the International Institute. We also led another #bikebus on Wednesday morning and afternoon, with the weather cooperating beautifully for riding together to and from school. We finished out this mostly sunny and happily busy week with a bustling Saturday at the shop — big thanks to everyone who joined us and pitched in on a multitude of fronts!