Nonprofits Create Community is NIA’s theme for 2026, as we celebrate the ways that nonprofits come through for their communities in spite of all the challenges facing them. In this series, meet some NIA-insured nonprofits who share their stories of creating community in their own words.
Meet Bikes For Christ of Tampa Bay, FL
Pat Simmons, President of Bikes For Christ, explains:
“Our mission is ‘transportation on the road to salvation’ — to empower people with the gift of transportation.
We foster meaningful connections between those who have resources to give and those who need a helping hand, creating a stronger and more compassionate community for everyone involved.”
How does your nonprofit and your mission create community for the people and places you serve?
Transportation as a pathway to employment, education, and greater independence.
“Bikes For Christ creates community by bringing together individuals, businesses, nonprofits, churches, government agencies, and volunteers around a shared goal of helping people overcome transportation barriers and improve their quality of life.
Our mission fosters meaningful connections between those who have resources to give and those who need a helping hand, creating a stronger and more compassionate community for everyone involved.
For the individuals we serve, a bicycle is often more than just transportation — it is a pathway to employment, education, healthcare, recovery programs, and greater independence.
By helping people access opportunities and remain connected to essential services, we empower them to become more active and engaged members of their communities.
Our work also strengthens relationships among community partners. Over the past decade, we have collaborated with more than 200 organizations across the Tampa Bay area, creating a network of support that helps address the transportation needs of vulnerable populations.
These partnerships encourage collaboration, resource-sharing, and a collective commitment to improving lives.
Volunteers play a vital role in building this sense of community. Whether they are repairing bicycles, assisting with distributions, representing Bikes For Christ at community events, or helping raise awareness about our mission, they become part of a team united by service and purpose.
Through these shared experiences, lasting relationships are formed and a culture of compassion, dignity, and hope is strengthened.
Ultimately, Bikes For Christ creates community by connecting people, removing barriers, and opening doors to opportunity.
Every bicycle donated, refurbished, and distributed represents not only transportation, but also a community coming together to invest in the success and well-being of its neighbors.”
What are your nonprofit’s biggest challenges or obstacles to creating community?
The needs of the community exceed the resources available to help.
“One of the biggest challenges Bikes For Christ faces is the growing demand for transportation assistance throughout the communities we serve.
Many individuals are struggling with financial hardship, housing instability, recovery, or reentry into society, and the need for reliable transportation often exceeds the resources available to meet that demand.
Another challenge is raising awareness about the critical role transportation plays in helping people achieve stability and self-sufficiency. While a bicycle can be life-changing for someone without dependable transportation, the need is not always visible to the broader community.
Educating potential donors, volunteers, and community partners about this issue is essential to expanding our impact.
As our service area has grown to include portions of five counties across the Tampa Bay region, maintaining strong relationships and consistent engagement across a large geographic area has also become more challenging.
Building and sustaining partnerships with organizations, volunteers, and supporters requires ongoing communication, coordination, and resources.
Like many nonprofits, we also face challenges related to funding, volunteer recruitment, and securing enough donated bicycles to meet community needs. The ability to create and strengthen community connections is directly tied to having the resources necessary to continue our mission.
Despite these challenges, we view them as opportunities to build even stronger partnerships and deepen community involvement.
Through collaboration with more than 200 organizations over the past decade, we have demonstrated that when communities work together, barriers can be overcome and lives can be changed.”
