Pedals for Patriots brings vets up to speed

By Tim Forsberg
Posted 3/23/17

Johnston's Operation Stand Down Rhode Island (OSDRI) introduced its Pedals for Patriots" program Tuesday by providing eight donated and refurbished bicycles to veterans in need of transportation. "We're really excited here at Operation"

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Pedals for Patriots brings vets up to speed

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Johnston’s Operation Stand Down Rhode Island (OSDRI) introduced its “Pedals for Patriots” program Tuesday by providing eight donated and refurbished bicycles to veterans in need of transportation.

“We’re really excited here at Operation Stand Down to kick off our Pedals for Patriots program. This is the first time we’re giving out bikes that we have been soliciting from the community for the past several months,” said Dee DeQuatrro, Director of Communications and Development at OSDRI. “This is just the beginning, though, so we’re going to continue collecting bikes, and we ask those out there to go ahead and donate bikes to Operation Stand Down and we’re going to give them out to veterans in need.”  

OSDRI, whose slogan is “A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out,” is a non-profit that advocates for at-risk and homeless veterans and assists them in securing stable housing. Their services include employment training and supportive permanent and transitional housing.  

While collecting the bikes and bringing them up to speed, OSDRI also accepted applications for recipients based on need.

“The Pedals for Patriots program was an idea that we had, and when we talked to the veterans and we asked them, ‘What do you need?’ and they’ll say, ‘I need a job, I need housing, I need clothing, I need shelter, and I need transportation,’” said Brian Sullivan, Associate Director of Veteran Outreach for OSDRI. “So the transportation piece is, how do I get from my home to my job, or how do I get to the VA for my medical appointments, how do I get to my doctor’s care, how do I get to my treatment. So we came up with this.”

Kasim Yarn, Rhode Island's Director of Veterans Affairs, said that he’s working towards creating a network for veterans so that “no veteran falls through the cracks.” He added that Governor Gina Raimondo has been clear in her efforts regarding outreach, listening to veterans, finding what they need, and that transportation is a concern throughout Rhode Island.

“It takes a village,” he said. “It takes the work of the General Assembly, other state agencies as well, like RIPTA, they’re partners in this process as well, to address our homeless population, our unemployment, and their needs for transportation utilizing all modes of travel, including bikes.”

 Recipient Tony Monteiro, a resident of North Providence who served in the Army and each day volunteers at the Providence VA’s homeless clinic, plans to use his bike to get to the clinic and to bus stops.

Jessica Conti, who lives at OSDRI’s center in Westerly and is the spouse of a veteran, has two children and one family car. She hopes to use the bike when the car is unavailable while her husband works and her children are at school.

“I just want to say thank you to OSD. Because of this bicycle I’m going to be able to get around town without waiting for my husband to get home. Thank you so much,” she said.

Joseph DeSousa, an Army veteran whose service includes time spent in Bosnia, said he plans to use the bike to get to the job he was just hired for.

“I usually go back and forth to the college. Right now it’s great bike weather, so I’m going to go to the library,” said DeSousa.

Russell Graham, who recently battled stage 4 lymphoma and is now in remission, said he looked for a bike to live a healthier lifestyle and to spend time with his 7-year-old son. Graham is currently a resident of OSDRI’s Johnston facility.

“I just want to thank everybody for everything. You guys saved my life. I beat cancer, I can’t say enough about Operation Stand Down,” said Graham.

The Pedals for Patriots program continues to seek new and used bicycles for veterans with transportation needs. Donation inquiries and veterans interested in receiving a donated bike may contact Brian Sullivan by email at briansullivan@osdri.org or by calling 383-4730.

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