Charles “Chuck” Reeves was a bit lost after serving in the Navy for several years.
The transition into becoming a civilian again proved more daunting than he expected, and floating from job to job, Reeves struggled to find employment. He became homeless, living out of his car.
“I’d planned to stay in San Diego,” Reeves told ABC 15 News in Arizona. “But I came back to Phoenix and tried working in aviation and construction. It was hard finding a niche, and as jobs changed, so did my stability.”
A proud veteran, Reeves didn’t really want to ask for help, but he decided to call a local Veterans Affairs office. Less than 24 hours later, Reeves received help from U.S. VETS and MANA House, which provides transitional housing for veterans. During his stay at MANA House, Reeves realized other veterans need help getting around Phoenix, and an idea was hatched – he would repair donated bikes for veterans.
“You still need something around here,” Reeves said. “A bike means independence. If you miss the bus, you can still get where you need to go.”
How Repair Gig Started
The Navy veteran’s bike restoration work started with him repairing bikes for fellow veterans staying at MANA House. Mechanically inclined, Reeves possessed a knack for fixing equipment at a young age. At the homeless veterans shelter, his work began small, fixing a few bikes at a time, to becoming his No. 1 passion.
Bikers Edge Cycle & Fitness in Peoria, Arizona, caught wind of Reeve’s mission and began donating bikes for him to repair. When he finishes a bike, Reeves sends it to MANA House for a veteran to use.
“I’m not out to get rich,” Reeves said. “As long as I can keep going and just help others, that’s what matters.”
Rachel Perez, community engagement coordinator for MANA House, told ABC 15 that Reeve’s work is vital because just under 30 percent of veterans who use transitional housing there have reliable transportation.
Many do not have vehicles, so using a bike can help restore their independence. On a bike, they can get to a job interview or make an appointment on time.
“A lot of them struggle with how am I able to pick up my own prescription, attend to my own medical appointments, if I don’t have my own means of transportation,” Perez said.
For Reeves, who graduated from the MANA House transitional program, his work is a way of giving back. Perez believes Reeves is living up to the military credo “no soldier left behind.”
“Many of our veterans who have been in our program and have graduated really try their best to come back in any way,” Perez said. “Some, like Chuck, are giving back by providing essential transportation.”
MANA House Helps Veterans
The MANA House in Phoenix has room for 76 veterans and was housing 62 as of Dec. 5.
The organization helps veterans get back on their feet by finding permanent housing and assigning case managers to every veteran. Besides Reeves’s repaired bikes, the program also offers resume assistance and job training, along with donated computers and clothing.
With many people under housing and economic stress, Perez said the need for places like MANA House keeps growing. The facility used to provide shelter for the general public but shifted in recent years to specifically aid veterans.
“If they need help accessing VA benefits or finding a job, we help with that,” Perez said. “We want to make sure they have all the tools to succeed, not just temporarily, but once they leave here.”
MANA House works with other local organizations and volunteers to help with donations, construct resumes, and provide peer support from other veterans. Recently, the program helped a veteran craft his first resume, and he’s currently taking classes to learn HVAC.
For Reeves, knowing that every bike he repairs and provides to MANA House could help a veteran regain confidence and independence, makes all the hours spent with wrenches, screws, and hammers worth it.
“If everybody felt that same way,” he said, “we wouldn’t have the problems we have nowadays.”
To connect with Reeves and receive information about donating a bike, send an email to [email protected].
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