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Dale Baird

The Bicycle Enthusiast

Dale Baird

Dale is a retired engineer. Since retiring, Dale has turned a hobby (bicycling) into a service for others. He volunteers his time at Heart of the City Bicycles, a part of Heart of the City Foundation (HOTC), where he teaches and performs bicycle maintenance to disadvantaged and unhoused populations.

HOTC is a collective of programs that serve inner-city families in Fort Wayne, with a focus on providing life skills, mentoring and education for financially disadvantaged individuals of all ages. Its Earn-a-Bike Program gives participants the opportunity to earn their own bicycles after successfully fulfilling a community service project. It also trains people in the repair and maintenance of bicycles; participants in this progressive program receive a different color apron as they achieve higher levels of training. For many, the benefit of these programs go far deeper than obtaining a source of transportation.

“We see changes in people—they are able to lead more productive lives, able to connect with others, able to add some stability to their lives,” Dale said. “So many people are beaten down by the time they come in here. We are able to help them build their confidence and make better decisions.”

He added, “We’re trying to show people that if you can fix a bike, you can fix other things in your life. You can fix this! You don’t have to throw it away.”

What a life of significance and worth looks like to Dale:

“I’ve always felt that if I have a gift I can utilize to help others, then I should do so. We all have different gifts, and I feel blessed that I have found a place that I can share and, hopefully, regift that knowledge.”

Learn more about this program

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