In front of the First Congregational Church in Grand Marais WOW representatives reviewed two donated bicycles for possible loan to the international workers. Pictured from left to right: Dan Strayer, Steve Deschene, and Jerry Lilja.
One Sunday in 2009, Rick Schubert and Dan Strayer had a church pew conversation about the need for international workers to have transportation. What came out of that conversation was Workers on Wheels (WOW), a program that loans bicycles to foreign workers for the summer.
Now in its seventh year, WOW is supported in part by the Grand Marais First Congregational United Church of Christ outreach program, and through donations of bicycles and money from the public.
Bicycles are donated and reconditioned before they are loaned out. Any international worker in Cook County can get a bike through this program with a $40 deposit. All repairs are also handled free of charge during that time.
With the return of the bike, deposits will be refunded at the end of the work season.
Over the years the program has grown steadily. The first year five bikes were given out. Today more than 60 two-wheelers are used for transportation.
The newest activity for WOW is in the West End where over 30 international workers now have wheels that allow them to travel about.
“We think that in another year or so, the Gunflint Trail and Cook County’s east end may join this group,” said Strayer.
With growth comes the demand for more stock.
“There is always need for more bicycles. Our inventory continues to be limited,” Strayer said. “And, the sophistication (more gears, etc.) keeps advancing. Therefore, there are more conditioning problems to be solved before the bikes are loaned out or seasonally repaired.”
Donated equipment should be in decent shape. A poorly conditioned bike takes a lot of time and money to fix, two things that are in short supply. Bikes that are “hanging” in garages are usually okay.
“The current real issue is financial support,” Strayer said.
For more information regarding support for WOW, Contact WOW representative Dan Strayer, First Congregational/UCC Church 1-218- 387-2113, or 1-512-567-0653 or email nstrayer@boreal.org
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