It's been a blazing hot summer but, despite the heat, the organization Bike and Build is pressing on in their efforts to build affordable housing.
This non-profit sends riders across the country to raise awareness and money to help the cause. They even stop along the way to build affordable housing. Since its founding, Bike and Build has had over 3,500 riders who’ve spent 200,000 hours building housing across the country. They've also raised over 6.2 million dollars.
They started in Jacksonville, Florida in May and this past weekend, they crossed into Southern California. Marlee Dunbar is in her second year of making the trek and she's one of this year’s trip leaders. Their three-month journey will end in two weeks in Monterrey, California. Take Two talked with her as the group took a break from the heat in Death Valley National Park Visitor Center.
Right now it’s July in Death Valley and it’s 117 degrees out. Do you ride during the day?
Most of the time we ride during the day. This morning was a special morning because we were riding through Death Valley, so we actually woke up at 3 a.m. this morning and were on the road ... and we only had about 60 miles to ride today, so most of it was downhill so we all made it by 10 a.m.
You guys are out on the road for three months straight, where are you sleeping and where are you showering? Are you having to relaying on the kindness of strangers?
Yes, we have been blown away by the generosity of all our hosts. So we partner with a lot of churches and community centers along the way ... they house us and feed us and find a place for us to shower, whether that’s in their church at the local community center, or just a hose outside. We’re happy with anything.
It’s an endless cycle of cycling and building, aren’t you tired?
You have a lot of adrenaline, a lot of great people to keep you pumped up along the way, a lot of naps. But yeah, [we’re] definitely tired but it’s definitely worth it; seeing the country and being able to spread the word about affordable housing and its need is just something that we really enjoy, so it’s worth it. And we can sleep in two weeks.