By Ryan Palencer
As the economy continues to struggle, several families find themselves needing housing assistance.
And while it may seem an unusual solution, Jesse Bright is using his bicycle to help them out.
Bright is participating in Bike and Build, a non-profit organization that encourages cross-country cycling trips for young adults ages 18 to 25. The mission of the organization is to raise funds and awareness for the affordable housing cause, providing grants to groups like Habitat for Humanity to fund young adult driven projects.
“There is a group of 30 of us,” Bright said. “We will take off on any given day and pedal through different parts of America.”
Bright, a 24-year-old Ben Davis High School and DePauw University graduate, is preparing to depart on his first trip in mid-May. He plans to return at the end of July.
“I heard about it last year,” Bright said. “I did a lot of traveling and did a service project for AmeriCorps in Lafayette, La. I saw the good that Habitat can do and how that influences lives. It allows them to gain stability.”
Bright said he’s excited about the adventure of traveling cross-country. He added that he’s particularly looking forward to cycling through the mountains in Idaho, as he’s been there once before.
“There were nice people there,” he said. “The landscape is awesome. They kept telling me that I need to come back in the summer. Now I’ll get the chance.”
Bright, who admits he’s not the most experienced biker, said the program is not just for elite cyclists.
“I really enjoy (cycling),” he said. “It’s perfect for me. I’m not really the most competitive person, but I enjoy getting out and enjoying the scenery.”
Mostly though, he said he’s pleased to be doing something that could make a difference in people’s lives.
For more information on the program, visit the website at www.bikeandbuild.org.
To donate to Bright’s cause, visit the website and go to the “Central United States” route.
ryan.palencer@flyergroup.com
