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Ways to Volunteer

Be a part of the change!

As the Cycling for Change Team journeys the 5,000 miles across the U.S., from the northwestern most point of the continental United States to the southeastern most point, join the cause to reduce poverty one mile at a time.

What can you do?

  • Link your website to www.cyclingforchange.org
  • Become a Cycling for Change Facebook fan
  • If you are along the route (or not!), organize a fundraising event around the energy of the ride coming to your area. You could host a “mini-ride” in your community to raise funds for your local programs.  If the Cycling for Change Team is coming through your area, coordinate with the C4C Headquarters in Kansas City so your cycling group can ride with Fr. Matt and his team.
  • Host a rally with faith communities and civic organizing groups in your community to raise the issues of poverty in your area.  Invite local social service agencies, government officials, businesses, local media and other concerned citizens.
  • If you are a member of Catholic Charities USA, use the Cycling for Change ride as part of your Catholic Charities USA Centennial celebration.
  • Volunteer to assist with logistics as the team passes through your area. (transportation, housing, food, etc)
  • Celebrate mass or pray with us as we take a break in your community.  Together in fellowship and prayer we can tackle the issues that contribute to poverty.  Offer a second collection at that mass to help “Reduce Poverty One Mile at a Time.
  • When the Cycling Team arrives in your community, host a social services street fair.  Invite agencies in your area to provide displays and education about the services they offer. Provide food, music and a lot of fun things to do for those who attend.  The message of the day is to encourage people to find out more about the organizations represented at the fair. The call-to-action is asking everyone in attendance to volunteer with one or more of the organizations.
  • Your community might host a cycling event of their own to raise money to benefit services aimed at one of the four pillars from the Poverty Paper: Healthcare, Hunger, Housing and Economic Stability through education.
  • Your community could focus on healthcare and have a health service fair for your local citizens, bring legislatures to the event and have them discuss the newest provisions the government is taking to help people without healthcare services.
  • Have a cookout or plan a bike ride to help raise money for Catholic Charities in your area or another social service agency that helps people with their healthcare needs.
  • Focusing on housing, your community could identify an agency that helps local citizens with this need.
  • Collect volunteers from all over your city or town to help elderly citizens with housing projects, manage a fan or air-conditioning drive for those without, or focus on one housing location that is in desperate need of an uplift.  If the Cycling for Change Team is going through your area, have them meet you at your site, gather citizens and town officials together to discuss solid action steps to help your community with housing issues.
  • A local university might consider empowering young adults by forming a student-led volunteer committee, with a staff advisor, to organize one or more of the above events.  Keep in mind their ability to reach out to any surrounding neighborhoods of your campus that would benefit from the advocacy and action of your campaign.
  • Local events are limited only by your enthusiasm and imagination!

If you are able to help with financial contributions it will benefit the many programs of Catholic Charities aimed at changing the cycle of poverty and it effects on children and families in our communities. In addition, your gift will help further Catholic Charities’ dream to build a one-stop facility with a range of services to meet the multi-faceted needs of people affected by poverty. This includes strengths-based case management, homeless prevention programs, financial literacy programming, employment training, and emergency assistance.

No matter the size of the gift, the intent from which it is given is deeply appreciated by Catholic Charities and most importantly, by the people we serve.

Please click here to donate online to Cycling for Change. For more information about how your contribution can make a difference, call 816-714-2384.

Mail your contribution to:
Catholic Charities Foundation
Cycling for Change
301 E. Armour Blvd., Suite 620
Kansas City, MO 64111