Charlottetown organization helps newcomers settle with affordable transportation

By Judith Mendiolea

Caridad García returns home after completing her daily errands with a bike she got from the Reach Foundation in Charlottetown. - Judith Mendiolea/Special to The Guardian

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — When Caridad García arrived in P.E.I. from Ecuador to pursue her master’s degree, transportation quickly became an issue. 

Without a car, she found herself relying on buses to get around town. 

That changed when her roommates told her about the Reach Foundation, a non-profit organization in Charlottetown that refurbishes bicycles and sells them at affordable prices. For just $25, García purchased a bike.  

“The bike has helped, especially when going to get groceries,” García said. “It’s nicer to bike than take the bus, and I get some exercise while doing my daily errands.

“Buying from Reach felt like helping a good cause. I researched the foundation and thought it was the best way to spend my money.”

Social enterprise  

The Reach Foundation is a community-driven organization that focuses on supporting people with addiction and mental health challenges.

Through its three social enterprise programs – soap making, embroidery and bike refurbishing – Reach provides hands-on work experience and counselling to individuals who might otherwise struggle to find stable employment.  

Julienne Lecky, left, and Jade Myers, former participants of REACH Foundation, now work as part of the organization in its Charlottetown facility. Lecky is the social enterprise manager and Myers works in the organization’s soap workshop with youth in recovery. - Judith Mendiolea/Special to The Guardian

Jade Myers, who now works as an embroidery shop coach at Reach, first came to the foundation while dealing with addiction and mental health issues. 

"I decided I would try it out, and it was honestly the best decision I ever made," said Myers. "I feel amazing being able to help other people. It's really rewarding, and I really feel like I found my place."

Reach’s programs are classroom-based, providing employment training, counselling and vocational training.

Life-saving

Myers initially joined the program after hearing about it through recovery meetings. 

She went through it twice after a leg injury and secured a job at the organization.

"I believe that they’ve saved my life as well," Myers said. “If it weren’t for Reach, I don’t know where I would have gone.”

Morgan Hirtle, bike shop coach at the Reach Foundation, repairs a bike at the organization's workshop in Charlottetown. - Judith Mendiolea/Special to The Guardian

The bike refurbishing program is one of the foundation’s initiatives. 

“The bike program is very important to the overall mission of the Reach Foundation,” explained Julienne Lecky, the Social Enterprise Manager.

“It teaches practical skills like problem-solving and working with your hands. We're also bringing these bikes at affordable prices to people in the community. And we're promoting active transportation. It's better for the environment. It's better for your body.” 

Finding stability

Lecky knows the transformative power of Reach firsthand. She began as a participant in 2023, struggling with anxiety and isolation before finding stability through the foundation’s programs. 

“When I started, I wasn’t working, I wasn’t seeing friends, and I had bad anxiety,” she said. “REACH gave me a space to grow. I love that I get to help other people now that I've been a part of the organization, and I get to see those changes in participants for myself.”

The Reach Foundation in Charlottetown is home to bike refurbishing, soap and embroidery workshops where youth in recovery get help through training and counselling. - Judith Mendiolea/Special to The Guardian

Lecky shared the story of one participant who struggled initially but found his stride in the bike shop.

“Our program is not for everyone. We have a lot of learning-based, school-focused. That can be challenging. But I have seen the person I'm thinking of just work so hard and really excel in the social enterprise (bike) area. And that confidence, it translated to the rest of the experience.”

In the near future, Reach will be offering shelter for youth in need once the renovation of their new facility is finalized.

For newcomers like García, Reach offers more than affordable transportation, it provides a sense of belonging.

"The first time I rode the bike it felt awesome. It felt more like home because I used to ride bikes in my country."

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