Bikes from the Heart, Sacred Heart Catholic Church’s outreach devoted to refurbishing and redistributing bicycles to those in need across Tampa Bay has reached yet another milestone, with the ministry set to donate their 1500th bicycle this Friday, February 21, at 10:30 a.m. on the front steps of the church.
Receiving this special bicycle is Danielle Ritchie, an unhoused member of our community and current client of the Tampa Hope Homeless Shelter, a partnership initiative between the City of Tampa and the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Catholic Charities located in east Ybor. Ritchie has been a resident at Tampa Hope since early December 2024 and is poised to use the donated bike to continue her search for work, as well as attend medical office visits.
Feature from WFTS ABC Action News 28 to follow…
Bikes from the Heart is a volunteer program founded in 2023 by Sacred Heart parishioners Tim Eves and Tom Henry that operates out of the former convent on the church’s “North Campus” property, formerly Sacred Heart Academy (3515 N Florida Avenue). Used bicycles and parts are donated to BFTH by individuals, parishioners of Sacred Heart and other area churches, apartment and condominium complexes, and partners like WellBuilt Bikes or local law enforcement. Those bikes are then refurbished into working order to be given to recipients across Tampa Bay that are struggling with access to reliable transportation. The ministry has grown to employ more than a dozen regular volunteers and hopes to refurbish and redistribute at least 1000 bicycles each year. BFTH is the 2024 winner of the Downtown Collaboration Award from the Tampa Downtown Partnership’s Urban Excellence Awards, and is funded in part by the Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of St. Petersburg’s Community Impact Grant.
To learn more about the ministry, volunteer, or donate, visit shfla.org/bikes.
