The bike brigade is coming to town

Ms. Illinois World International 2021 Tiffany Kory assisted in initiating the Bike Brigade

MCHENRY COUNTY – At the start of February 2020, St. Charles resident Joanie Jett couldn’t have imagined that volunteering for a small not-for-profit group started by a few senior citizens, would grow to significantly impact communities all throughout Illinois.

Through her dedication to see the not-for-profit group prosper, Jett became the executive director of End a Child’s Hunger. Working with a team of volunteers, Jett not only assists those needing meals, but provides further resources through other initiatives.

End a Child’s Hunger is hosting its first ever Bike Brigade this year, with Jett explaining that she began expanding her not-for-profit efforts to the Huntley area, three years ago.

“I developed a relationship with the Huntley food pantry which is called the Grafton Food Pantry. Harriet (Ford) and me really just worked very well together. She’s beautiful and everything about her is wanting to help her community and obviously her mission and her goal is to make sure people aren’t going hungry in her community. That tied in very well with what I do. A lot of my efforts go directly through Grafton,” Jett said.

“It’s my first year that we’re calling it the Bike Brigade. In the past, we have accepted used bikes and used the very same volunteer that’s pretty handy with bikes to maybe just clean them up, tune them up. We didn’t do an actual give away…It was more word of mouth of get something in and give it out. We were doing clothing and bikes and different things. Never have I done a big bike brigade.”

Jett explained that each town she partners with has their own method of identifying children in need. Bikes donated to the Bike Brigade came from various locations including bikes returned to Walmart or from sponsors. So far, Jett stated the group has been able to collect 70 new bikes.

“Now, we will continue to do bikes and give them out throughout the course of the summer just because there is such a need right now and such a wonderful gift. It’ll kind of be like if I get three in, I’ll make a call and see who wants to take three out. You know, something like that,” Jett said.

Huntley resident Ross Bozia volunteered his time in delivering the first load of bikes from the Bike Brigade to the Grafton Food Pantry.

“He fixes up lawnmowers and snowmobiles and he donates them to families and to veterans. He’s using his trailer to come out to West Chicago where I have a facility stored with bikes and he’s going to bring a load out starting tomorrow (April 28). I think based on the pantry needs; they’re going to start giving them out as people come. I think they’re going to make some phone calls,” Jett said.

Huntley residents must be registered with the Grafton Food Pantry in order to qualify for a bike from the Bike Brigade. Jett made it clear that this is a pre-registered event and not just a hand out so as to not overwhelm her group with bike requests.

In addition to the bikes, Jett has also been asking for donations to purchase bike locks, setting her goal of collecting $840. While she hasn’t quite reached that goal, Jett is happy to have gotten at least $200 in donations, enough to purchase 14 bike locks.

“We’ll give them to the highest [risk groups] and take it from there. If there’s some higher risk that develops, maybe we’ll spend $100 [or] $200 out of the account, but we won’t be able to give every kid a bike lock this time around,” Jett said.

Jett expressed her gratitude to all those who have helped her, including Tiffany Kory who was Ms. Illinois World International 2021 and also serves on the Board of Directors for End a Child’s Hunger.

End a Child’s Hunger will additionally be hosting a “Christmas in July” fundraiser in the form of a comedy showcase. This event will raise more funds for the group’s efforts.

“In the future, I have a big Christmas program, but the big Christmas program got really, really big. Too big for a group like ours to be able to handle. So, we are going to actually split the group and Huntley will be benefited through the Grafton Food Pantry,” Jett said.

Jett explained that the group doesn’t advertise their facility or giveaways necessarily, but is always happy to direct those who need assistance, in the right direction. Currently, End a Child’s Hunger is in the process of building a website, but until that is complete, the group primarily stays active on Facebook.

Other initiatives the group is involved with include school supply drives, turkey giveaways during Thanksgiving and even partnering up with another non-profit called Sneaker Heartz, that donates shoes to those in need.

In the end, Jett states that she is appreciative of all the outpour of support from communities she provides assistance to.

“I can tell you that our people that we’ve helped years ago, are now some of our biggest supporters. It sometimes really does just take a lift up in the worst time of your life to get you boosted and get you going. So, if I’m spoiling [a family] during the worst time in their life, I’m okay with that,” Jett said.