ATLAS of Rock County is expanding its community ministries to include bike sales and repair, brought about by Ken Petersen’s retirement from his Ken’s Bike Shop business.
The arrangement has been a “God thing,” according to ATLAS director Michael Blank
“We had a person come to us who had no transportation, so I looked to Ken to purchase a bike from to give to this person,” he said.
“Instead of selling us the bike, Ken donated it to this person so he’d have transportation for work.”
Learning that Petersen’s bike business was leaving town, the ATLAS Board recognized bike sales and repair as a potential ministry to add to the organization’s already broad community outreach.
Blank said ATLAS encounters a fair number of people who can’t get a driver’s license, and bicycles allow them to get to work or school or other obligations.
Petersen similarly saw value in leaving his business with ATLAS.
“I dealt with hundreds of people every year,” he said. “A lot of people in town have bicycles, and I was seeing people from Worthington, Pipestone and Edgerton.”
It was seasonal and part-time work, but Petersen said ATLAS may be a useful home for his former business.
“This could be something good in the community,” Petersen said Monday.
He donated his bike inventory and some equipment to ATLAS before his upcoming move with his wife, Mary, to Superior, Wisconsin.
The bike shop will be next to the “ATLAS Community Room” on the west side of the building (formerly Luverne Kawasaki) on Maple Street.
“It’s a good setup,” Petersen said Monday.
Organizers are considering a “name the bike shop” contest — something Biblical, just as the successful Redeemed Remnants second-hand store is named.
Ideally, a bike expert would be on hand to repair and sell bikes, but Blank said that person remains to be found.
Meanwhile, ATLAS is working with Center of Hope to learn how the Sioux Falls organization handles its bike ministry, “Geared to Empower.”
Blank said the Sioux Falls group is offering advice and training Luverne volunteers.
“Obviously we’re looking for volunteers,” he said, “but it remains to be seen whether or not we’ll have a specialist on hand.”
Blank said he’s looking forward to meeting a need in the community.
“I think it’s going to be a good thing,” he said.
“We’re going to get bikes into the hands of people who need a form of transportation for work or school. We’re going to fix bikes for the public, and we’ll donate bikes to those who need them.”
Petersen said he hopes the new arrangement is successful.
“They may not be able to help everyone in Rock County like a commercial operation would,” he said. “But my hope is that the people in need will get the most benefit from it.”
ATLAS isn’t yet accepting bike donations, but those interested in helping with the bike ministry can contact Blank at 507-449-5777.