Katherine,

I am in Orange County and the ED of Build Futures.  We are an all volunteer organization helping homeless youth 18 to 24.  We started our social enterprise Bikes Build Futures to create jobs for the homeless kids while we try to get them jobs.

We would love any suggestions or best practices to get to profitability.  We get donated bikes, pay the kids to work on them then sell them to get the money to pay the kids and purchase parts and pay for fixed costs.

I could not get through on the phone number  in the email.

Thank you!

On Wed, Aug 15, 2012 at 8:10 PM, Katherine McIlveen-Brown <kmcilveenbrown@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Allyson,

I'm the coordinator for an organization called Charlie's FreeWheels (charliesfreewheels.ca) in Toronto -- I'd be happy to talk about some our trials and tribulations with opening an youth-led bike shop -- feel free to give me a call at the shop (416-456-2200) and we can have a chat. There are a few odd rules, especially with Canada Revenue Agency to look out for -- we found it difficult to mediate the charitable aspects of our mission with the profitable aspects.

I would really encourage you to take a look at a document on line: http://www.enterprisingnonprofits.ca/projects/the_guide/

Planning goes a long way!

- Katherine


On Mon, Aug 13, 2012 at 12:39 PM, Allyson Lowery <ALowery@mail.mackenziecounselling.ca> wrote:

Hi there,

 

I work with at-risk youth in a rural northern community and yesterday as I was tossing my sea foam green toilet at the dump I saw at least 6 bikes. I have been looking for something to engage some of my kids and I started thinking about bike-cycling/community shops etc. I feel that this is a really worthwhile project I just have no idea how to go about starting off – so I am looking for support – I am going to check the lists and see what advice is there, then I am going to start networking within my community. Any words of wisdom would be appreciated!

 

Allyson Lowery , MS Ed

 

Child and Youth Care Program

Mackenzie Counselling Services

PO Box 790

Mackenzie, BC

V0J 2C0

tel: 250.997.6595 xt 226

fax: 250.997.3903

email: allyson.lowery@mackenziecounselling.ca

 

 

 


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--
Kathy Tillotson
Build Futures, Executive Director
www.BuildFutures.org

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

Sir Winston Churchill