PORTLAND, Maine — For David Malaba, a bike was lifechanging. Malaba, who immigrated to Maine from Africa, struggled to get around when he first arrived, often missing the bus and finding it challenging to commute to work.
"I was struggling with transportation," he said. "It meant a lot for me."
The Portland Gear Hub, a nonprofit that donates bikes to people in need, provided Malaba with a free bicycle—giving him a reliable way to get around.
Portland Gear Hub Director James O’Donnell said the organization is looking to grow its operation alongside community demand.
"We take old gear, bikes, outdoor gear, we refurbish it, and we get it back out to the community," O’Donnell explained. "We have retail operations and programs through which we donate bikes to people in need."
Since 2017, Portland Gear Hub has donated 90 percent of its giveaway bikes from its current location on Washington Avenue in Portland's Munjoy Hill neighborhood. However, after years of relocating, the nonprofit aims to make this site its permanent home.
The nonprofit is raising $1.56 million to purchase its building, ensuring it can continue to operate and serve the community. So far, they’ve most of what it needs before a Dec. 1 deadline.
At 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 29, only $16,000 was left to secure.
"We’ve adapted this building to suit our needs," O’Donnell said. "Finding a new location that we could afford, and that all our customers and program participants would know about, would be extraordinarily onerous."
Executive Director Laragh Kavanaugh shared optimism about their momentum.
"In the past six weeks, we have raised over $150,000. The momentum is outstanding, and it’s really building," Kavanaugh said.
Time is running out, and Portland Gear Hub is asking the community for support to reach its goal and continue helping people like Malaba.
"I love it and hope that people will help," Malaba said.
If you’d like to contribute, visit portlandgearhub.org.
