Our History
Hi - This is Joe - The Bike Man.
I just want to take this opportunity to fill you in on some of our history and the vision of where we would like to go.
Our team of mechanics and other volunteers has been serving several charity and community service groups within Flagler County Florida since 2014, expanding our services to the community each year.
I just want to take this opportunity to fill you in on some of our history and the vision of where we would like to go.
Our team of mechanics and other volunteers has been serving several charity and community service groups within Flagler County Florida since 2014, expanding our services to the community each year.
Charitable Groups We Serve
Christmas Come True - http://christmascometrue.org/
Bike Services started in December 2014
Their MISSION: To provide a complete Christmas experience for area resident parents who are unable to financially afford a traditional Christmas for their families. They provide a customized Christmas dinner for home preparation for each family. Each child receives new clothing, age-appropriate toys and gifts and a Christmas stocking filled with necessities & goodies.
Last year (Christmas 2018) they assisted over 157 families including over 457 children. As part of that effort, the bike team built and checked over 187 new bicycles (from trikes to 27”). Each bicycle is fully inspected after assembly for safe riding and operation. This all happens in about 3 weeks immediately following Thanksgiving. With each new bike a helmet is also provided.
Bike Services started in December 2014
Their MISSION: To provide a complete Christmas experience for area resident parents who are unable to financially afford a traditional Christmas for their families. They provide a customized Christmas dinner for home preparation for each family. Each child receives new clothing, age-appropriate toys and gifts and a Christmas stocking filled with necessities & goodies.
Last year (Christmas 2018) they assisted over 157 families including over 457 children. As part of that effort, the bike team built and checked over 187 new bicycles (from trikes to 27”). Each bicycle is fully inspected after assembly for safe riding and operation. This all happens in about 3 weeks immediately following Thanksgiving. With each new bike a helmet is also provided.
The Sheltering Tree a.k.a. Flagler County Family Assistance Center - https://flaglershelteringtree.com/
Bike Services started in June 2017
Their MISSION: Helping the homeless, near homeless and financially challenged individuals and families with much needed supplies and emergency food including safe shelter, food and clothing. They also open a cold weather shelter when the temperature drops below 40 degrees in The United Methodist Church in Bunnell.
As part of this mission we take donations of used adult size bicycles and repair/rebuild them to full functionality. Many of these donated bicycles are in dire need of repairs to wheels, brakes, drive and shift systems. Rebuilding is performed in a donated space in a business strip mall and serves as the main bike workshop where parts and bicycles are stored. Bicycles that are beyond repair are harvested for working parts to help repair other bicycles. During 2018 & 2019 we have rebuilt over 150 bicycles that were distributed to their clients to use as transportation to find work and improve the quality of their lives. When our inventory of repaired bicycles exceeds our needs, we distribute bicycles to other local organizations that provide half-way house assistance in Flagler and Volusia counties in Florida.
The second part of our work for The Sheltering Tree is a twice monthly (1st & 3rd Tuesdays) on-the-spot repair operation at the First United Methodist Church in Bunnell which houses the Sheltering Tree office. Repair stands are set up, tools are laid out and boxes of parts are available to repair bicycles for their clients on the spot. A typical repair day may service as many as 10-12 bicycles. Our services have been noted on their website, https://flaglershelteringtree.com/meet-joe-golan
Bike Services started in June 2017
Their MISSION: Helping the homeless, near homeless and financially challenged individuals and families with much needed supplies and emergency food including safe shelter, food and clothing. They also open a cold weather shelter when the temperature drops below 40 degrees in The United Methodist Church in Bunnell.
As part of this mission we take donations of used adult size bicycles and repair/rebuild them to full functionality. Many of these donated bicycles are in dire need of repairs to wheels, brakes, drive and shift systems. Rebuilding is performed in a donated space in a business strip mall and serves as the main bike workshop where parts and bicycles are stored. Bicycles that are beyond repair are harvested for working parts to help repair other bicycles. During 2018 & 2019 we have rebuilt over 150 bicycles that were distributed to their clients to use as transportation to find work and improve the quality of their lives. When our inventory of repaired bicycles exceeds our needs, we distribute bicycles to other local organizations that provide half-way house assistance in Flagler and Volusia counties in Florida.
The second part of our work for The Sheltering Tree is a twice monthly (1st & 3rd Tuesdays) on-the-spot repair operation at the First United Methodist Church in Bunnell which houses the Sheltering Tree office. Repair stands are set up, tools are laid out and boxes of parts are available to repair bicycles for their clients on the spot. A typical repair day may service as many as 10-12 bicycles. Our services have been noted on their website, https://flaglershelteringtree.com/meet-joe-golan
Family Life Center - http://www.familylifecenterflagler.org/home.html
Bike Services started in May 2018
Their MISSION: The mission of the Family Life Center is to provide essential support services to individuals and families to end Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence in Flagler County.
This is an Emergency Shelter and Safe-House with 32 beds for adults and their children. Support services include shelter, food, clothing, transportation, medical services, employment coaching, education resources, legal service support, counseling, community education, conducting outreach programs that focus on prevention and education related to Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence at no cost to victims, and partnering with other social service and law enforcement agencies to coordinate support services and programs.
Services we provide to this organization are primarily repair and maintenance on bicycles used by their clients (approx. 30-35 bicycles) on the 1st & 3rd Fridays of the month. This can range from children’s 12” to adult bicycles and trikes. Similar to the Sheltering Tree, we will set up repair stand(s) in their parking lot and bring all parts and tooling with us to efficiently perform the repairs making the bikes safe and road worthy. We also provide rebuilt donated children and adult bikes as needed from our Sheltering Tree shop facility. The children use the bikes in a nearby park and are also encouraged to use them to get to school.
Bike Services started in May 2018
Their MISSION: The mission of the Family Life Center is to provide essential support services to individuals and families to end Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence in Flagler County.
This is an Emergency Shelter and Safe-House with 32 beds for adults and their children. Support services include shelter, food, clothing, transportation, medical services, employment coaching, education resources, legal service support, counseling, community education, conducting outreach programs that focus on prevention and education related to Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence at no cost to victims, and partnering with other social service and law enforcement agencies to coordinate support services and programs.
Services we provide to this organization are primarily repair and maintenance on bicycles used by their clients (approx. 30-35 bicycles) on the 1st & 3rd Fridays of the month. This can range from children’s 12” to adult bicycles and trikes. Similar to the Sheltering Tree, we will set up repair stand(s) in their parking lot and bring all parts and tooling with us to efficiently perform the repairs making the bikes safe and road worthy. We also provide rebuilt donated children and adult bikes as needed from our Sheltering Tree shop facility. The children use the bikes in a nearby park and are also encouraged to use them to get to school.
Open Door Re-Entry & Recovery Ministry - http://www.opendoorrecovery.org/index.php
Bike services starting June 2019
Their Mission - Open Door Re-entry & Recovery Ministry is committed to:
1. Character transformation and successful community transition for all clients accepted into the Open Door residency program.
2. Integrity in dealing with all clients, earning trust, and providing information and supervised services as outlined in the Open Door Re-entry & Recovery Ministry Student Handbook and found in the Phase 1 through Phase 4 manual. Providing recovery steps that lay a foundation for clients to break the bondage of addiction associated to drug and alcohol use.
3. Providing drug and alcohol users and offenders the spiritual, emotional, and physical tools to face the future with hope, and plan constructively for their transitions into our communities.
4. Ensuring all staff and volunteers receive proper training to execute duties that enable spiritual, emotional and physical growth of all clients.
5. Working with Christian churches, service, and legal organizations to help clients develop moral character that lines up with ethical values and community standards.
6. Providing transitional employment opportunities for clients as part of the recovery process that includes financially participating by the client in assisting with housing, food, recovery literature, transportation, and staff expenses.
7. Providing services that do not discriminate based on race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, or marital status of its clients.
8. Ensuring all information associated to the Open Door residences program is protected and properly handled by all Open Door staff and volunteers.
9. Adherence with National Association of Evangelical’s Statement of Faith.
Services we provide to this organization are primarily adult bikes as needed from our Sheltering Tree shop facility. We will also make repairs as needed to bikes issued.
Bike services starting June 2019
Their Mission - Open Door Re-entry & Recovery Ministry is committed to:
1. Character transformation and successful community transition for all clients accepted into the Open Door residency program.
2. Integrity in dealing with all clients, earning trust, and providing information and supervised services as outlined in the Open Door Re-entry & Recovery Ministry Student Handbook and found in the Phase 1 through Phase 4 manual. Providing recovery steps that lay a foundation for clients to break the bondage of addiction associated to drug and alcohol use.
3. Providing drug and alcohol users and offenders the spiritual, emotional, and physical tools to face the future with hope, and plan constructively for their transitions into our communities.
4. Ensuring all staff and volunteers receive proper training to execute duties that enable spiritual, emotional and physical growth of all clients.
5. Working with Christian churches, service, and legal organizations to help clients develop moral character that lines up with ethical values and community standards.
6. Providing transitional employment opportunities for clients as part of the recovery process that includes financially participating by the client in assisting with housing, food, recovery literature, transportation, and staff expenses.
7. Providing services that do not discriminate based on race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, or marital status of its clients.
8. Ensuring all information associated to the Open Door residences program is protected and properly handled by all Open Door staff and volunteers.
9. Adherence with National Association of Evangelical’s Statement of Faith.
Services we provide to this organization are primarily adult bikes as needed from our Sheltering Tree shop facility. We will also make repairs as needed to bikes issued.
Other Organizations We work With
Flagler County Schools - https://flaglerschools.com/home
Bike Services started May 2019
MISSION: To supply working used bicycles to the students of Flagler Schools who are in transition, foster children and for those in financially challenged families. Distribution is made to the individual schools via their duly appointed representative for these programs.
We started this program in May 2019 starting with two elementary schools and one middle school. Over the summer of 2019, we launched a campaign via local forums and social media for Flagler County residents to donate their gently used bicycles for redistribution via Flagler Schools. The program was widened in September 2019, to serve the balance of the elementary and middle schools, we expanded it again to include the high schools in October 2019. As of Oct 2019, we have distributed 103 bicycles to the school district. This is an ongoing program and the designated person at each school can contact us at any time with additional requests for bikes.
Bike Services started May 2019
MISSION: To supply working used bicycles to the students of Flagler Schools who are in transition, foster children and for those in financially challenged families. Distribution is made to the individual schools via their duly appointed representative for these programs.
We started this program in May 2019 starting with two elementary schools and one middle school. Over the summer of 2019, we launched a campaign via local forums and social media for Flagler County residents to donate their gently used bicycles for redistribution via Flagler Schools. The program was widened in September 2019, to serve the balance of the elementary and middle schools, we expanded it again to include the high schools in October 2019. As of Oct 2019, we have distributed 103 bicycles to the school district. This is an ongoing program and the designated person at each school can contact us at any time with additional requests for bikes.
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office - http://www.flaglersheriff.com/
Sheriff Rick Staly
We work with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office in accepting excess bicycles that are in their property office and go unclaimed. These bicycles are distributed to the above organizations after being serviced and repaired. We have also recently participated in training for bicycle helmet fitting and conducting a bicycle safety rodeo, We are looking to assist the FCSO as a certified helmet fitter and help with their bicycle safety rodeo events.
Sheriff Rick Staly
We work with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office in accepting excess bicycles that are in their property office and go unclaimed. These bicycles are distributed to the above organizations after being serviced and repaired. We have also recently participated in training for bicycle helmet fitting and conducting a bicycle safety rodeo, We are looking to assist the FCSO as a certified helmet fitter and help with their bicycle safety rodeo events.
PAL - FCSO - www.flaglersheriffspal.org/
The Flagler Sheriff's Police Athletic League is an independent non-profit corporation committed to " Cops Helping Kids". Flagler Sheriff's PAL, a registered 501 (c)(3), is comprised of hundreds of kids both male and female. Police Officers volunteer and are sometimes assigned to direct activities and oversee the young people. Programs include sports, educational and mentoring opportunities.
PAL is a mixture of police officers, civilian staff and a board of directors, which is made up of Flagler Counties business and community leaders.
The Flagler Sheriff's Police Athletic League is an independent non-profit corporation committed to " Cops Helping Kids". Flagler Sheriff's PAL, a registered 501 (c)(3), is comprised of hundreds of kids both male and female. Police Officers volunteer and are sometimes assigned to direct activities and oversee the young people. Programs include sports, educational and mentoring opportunities.
PAL is a mixture of police officers, civilian staff and a board of directors, which is made up of Flagler Counties business and community leaders.
Local AA Sponsors
Started providing Bike Service in Jan 2019
Started providing Bike Service in Jan 2019
Emmanuel's Closet - http://www.emmanuelsclosetpalmcoast.com/
Bike services started Nov 2019
Their Mission: Emmanuel's Closet is happy to provide complimentary clothing and other necessities to children, single parents, families, seniors and homeless men and women in Flagler County. Our focus is to provide quality clothing to help families when they need it most. We encourage you to donate clothing your family no longer needs and also to shop for new "gently used" clothing.
Bike services started Nov 2019
Their Mission: Emmanuel's Closet is happy to provide complimentary clothing and other necessities to children, single parents, families, seniors and homeless men and women in Flagler County. Our focus is to provide quality clothing to help families when they need it most. We encourage you to donate clothing your family no longer needs and also to shop for new "gently used" clothing.
Samaritan Ministries -
Bike services started June 2020
By providing a safe and nurturing environment to those women and teens who are overcome by life's problems, we are able to give them the means necessary to make positive choices in their lives.
Samaritan Ministries advocates for and mentors women in Flagler County, FL. Our clients are desiring to transition from lives of poverty, abuse, or could be dealing with unplanned pregnancies. We offer counseling and assistance involving academic, vocational, emotional, and spiritual issues.
Arrangements are also made for free car maintenance, goal setting, support groups, mentoring and shelter when possible. Our ultimate goal of establishing a rent-free facility was realized as of March 2006 when we opened our Samaritan Inn house for women and children. From 2006 to 2011 we served over 20 families with a safe home environment until economics affected donations and we temporarily suspended that program. However, we have recently purchased another transition home that opened it's doors in July of 2018.
Bike services started June 2020
By providing a safe and nurturing environment to those women and teens who are overcome by life's problems, we are able to give them the means necessary to make positive choices in their lives.
Samaritan Ministries advocates for and mentors women in Flagler County, FL. Our clients are desiring to transition from lives of poverty, abuse, or could be dealing with unplanned pregnancies. We offer counseling and assistance involving academic, vocational, emotional, and spiritual issues.
Arrangements are also made for free car maintenance, goal setting, support groups, mentoring and shelter when possible. Our ultimate goal of establishing a rent-free facility was realized as of March 2006 when we opened our Samaritan Inn house for women and children. From 2006 to 2011 we served over 20 families with a safe home environment until economics affected donations and we temporarily suspended that program. However, we have recently purchased another transition home that opened it's doors in July of 2018.
The organizations above provide a tremendous service to the people of Flagler County, Florida and we are proud to be able to assist them.
Outside of Flagler County
While our prime area of work is within Flagler County, from time to time we do go beyond our borders, especially for a request or we see a need we can fulfill. Here is a sampling of some of our extended work.
- Bike Fairy, Orlando Florida - Story Line - In June 2019 we were in contact with the Bike Fairy of Orlando, Kathy Downs, and she mentioned that she had a lot of last minute donations of bikes that needed some work before they were given away. We had a 2-man team for the day assisting her volunteer mechanics. It was so successful we are planning to send a 4-man team in June 2020 to her event along with maintenance stands, tooling and parts. The Bike Fairy also runs a 2nd event at Christmas time but due to our other commitments we can not assist them during that time of year.
- Solutions by the Sea, Daytona Beach - http://solutionsbytheseaflorida.com/ - In late 2018 we had a over abundance of bikes in the shop and were seriously running out of room. We appealed to our other partners for additional organizations that could use our "products". Solutions by the Sea fit that call as they provide the essentials needed to succeed in a safe and sober living environment. We provided 15 bikes to them in 2018 and an additional 12 bikes in 2019. They have since then are on a regular schedule of receiving 12 bikes a month.
- Florida School for the Deaf & the Blind, St. Augustine, FL - https://www.fsdbk12.org/ - In early February 2020, a Student Resource Officer for the school, Michele Anderson, approached us to see if she could 'buy' some bikes for 2 of the students in the residence hall for the boys high school students that had taken her bicycle safety class. They were going to use the bikes to get around on the 80-acre campus of the school. Once we learned who she was with and her role, we told her she could not pay us for the bikes. We delivered four bikes to the school in late February 2020. We are sure that there will be additional requests as more students take the bicycle safety class.
- Florida United Methodist Children's Home, Enterprise, FL - https://www.fumch.org/ - We were referred to this organization by one of biggest supporters and made contact with Jan Domingus of the school. They were happy to accept the bikes but were on COVID-19 lockdown restriction. We informed them that we would get 10-12 bicycles ready for when the lockdown was lifted and deliver them. On Monday, May 11, 2020 we were able to make the delivery of 12 bikes and 12 new bike helmets for the students to use. In 1908 The Florida United Methodist Children’s Home was established in Enterprise, Florida as the Florida Methodist Orphanage. We are proud to assist this well established and essential organization. If you would like to see more of their history look at this link https://www.fumch.org/about-fumch/history/.
- St Francis House & Port in the Storm St Augustine Fl https://www.stfrancisshelter.org/ These group provide Compassion, Shelter and Opportunity for the homeless. While St Francis House is geared to adults and families, Port in the Storm strives to help young adults.
- St Augustine Youth Services (SAYS) St Augustine FL - https://www.sayskids.org/ - Referral for this group came from our work with the Volusia-Flagler Foster Parent program and our work with Kathy Downs, The Bike Fairy. We started with the delivery of 12 bikes to them and now they are part of our portable bike shop operation, servicing their bikes on the 2nd & 4th Fridays of the month at their facility located at 201 Simone Way, St. Augustine, FL 32086.
The Bike Men of Flagler County
in the News
- Our services and dedication were featured in our local newspaper, the Palm Coast Observer, https://www.palmcoastobserver.com/ in July 2018. A copy of the article can be found on-line at https://www.palmcoastobserver.com/palm-coast-observer-07-26-18. [Click Here to download the article]
- We also were awarded a "Getting Results" award in April 2019 from Channel 6 NEWS for our work with the Sheltering Tree, That article and video can be seen here. https://www.clickorlando.com/getting-results./2019/04/04/bike-man-of-flagler-county-repairs-worn-bikes-for-needy/
- FCSO December 2020 Press Release featuring the Christmas Come True and The Bike Men of Flagler County https://www.palmcoastobserver.com/article/sheriffs-office-teams-up-with-the-bike-men-of-flagler-county-to-provide-bikes-for-kids
- FCSO May 9, 2022 Press Release highlighting Sheriff Rick Staly and The Bike Men of Flagler County helping a Ukrainian family settling in Palm Coast http://flaglersheriff.com/cmsfiles/2022-122-Sheriff-Gives-Bicycles-to-Ukrainian-KidsSends-Bulletproof-Vests-Overseas-rev1.pdf
- Palm Coast Observer September 26,2022 Article regarding presentation of a new electrified Trike for a local handyman whose previous trike was involved in an accident and not repairable. Community fundraiser and support from the Flagler County Sheriff's Office plus a local bike shop made it all possible. www.palmcoastobserver.com/article/new-electric-tricycle-donated-to-crash-victim
- January 6, 2023 - Palm Coast Observer "Standing O" is an annual series with a nomination for the Bike Men of Flagler County. https://www.palmcoastobserver.com/photo-gallery/standing-o-joe-golan-provides-wheels-for-those-who-need-them
- January 2023 - Evolve Magazine, First Coast Winter 2023 Edition, Page 36 "Community Service is Good Business" EVOLVE Magazine First Coast Region Winter 2023 Issue (joomag.com)
- February 19, 2023 - Palm Coast Observer - Flagler Cares purchases new trailer for Bike Men of Flagler County www.observerlocalnews.com/news/2023/feb/19/flagler-cares-purchases-new-trailer-for-bike-men-of-flagler-county/ Through its Flagler Catalyst Fund, Flagler Cares bought us a trailer at C&J Storage Solutions in Bunnell and surprised us with the gift on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. The trailer will be outfitted and serve as a portable bike shop in our off-site repair operation we schedule 8 days a month. The trailer will also include new tooling from our recent award by Park Tool in their 2023 Community Grant program. https://www.parktool.com/en-us/blog/news/park-tool-announces-winners-of-2023-community-tool-grants
The Future Vision for our Group
We would like to expand our services further, providing similar regular services to additional charitable and service organizations such as safe and halfway houses in and around Flagler County.
In addition we would like to open a bicycle Co-op where folks can learn about maintenance and bicycle mechanics and use work stations to repair their own bicycles.
In addition we would like to open a bicycle Co-op where folks can learn about maintenance and bicycle mechanics and use work stations to repair their own bicycles.
About Joe Golan - The Bike Man
Retired in May 2010, after 41 years in the electrical & communications industry, working in the New York City area as a Journeyman, Project Manager and a Registered Communication Distribution Designer.
Having worked on bicycles all my life as a hobby and for my family, I decided to put my talents and mechanics knowledge to work for the benefit of others. Starting first with Christmas Come True in 2014, then followed by The Sheltering Tree since May 2017, the Family Life Center starting in May 2018 and later for Flagler Schools since May 2019. The list keeps growing and growing.......
Help Videos
The following videos are informative only, we do not endorse any product or company. All content of the videos is the property of the Park Tool with permission to publish them on this website. Additional videos and helpful information can be found on their website at Park Tool Fix-it
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Other Helpful videos
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Additional Contact information of our partners
If you are having any issue with our website, please drop a quick email to our webmaster and they will correct the issue. webmaster@TheBikeMenofFlaglerCounty.com