Volunteer Spotlight: Bob Wong
You can often catch Bob working on Holiday Bike Drive bicycles at the shop on weekday afternoons, wrenching away and trading smiles and stories with shop staff.
Over the past year and a half, Bob has quietly offered tremendous support to our programs by wrenching on Tuesday nights and at community events and single-handedly performing hundreds of safety checks on bicycles destined for the Holiday Bike Drive.
Bob has also been a key member of the Cycle Oregon volunteer team that details bikes and charges electronics to raise funds to support our programs (the photo above was taken during this year’s sojourn). Bob brings a thoughtful, optimistic energy to our volunteer community, and we are grateful for his support.
How long have you been volunteering at the Community Cycling Center? How did you start?
About five years ago, I started helping with the special events rides and safety fairs. For the last 15 yrs I have been a bicycling proponent and when I learned of the Community Cycling Center, I became more involved.
What sort of volunteer work do you do?
I started doing whatever needed done at the special events, working with the Tuesday night volunteer crew, performing second checks for the Holiday Bike Drive bikes, and working on the detailing team at Cycle Oregon.
Why do you volunteer here?
I believe in the Community Cycling Center’s mission and goals and the staff and my fellow volunteers provide wonderful team camaraderie. It’s rewarding to see people excited and having fun when they get a new (to them) bike or enjoying a ride in the city.
What is your favorite Community Cycling Center program?
I don’t have a favorite program because they are all important. But you have to love the Holiday Bike Drive as it brings hundreds of people together to give and receive bicycles.
What is your dream bike?
I don’t have one yet, but it would be light, strong, capable for loaded touring, and portable (as in: easy to take on an airplane).
What do you do when you’re not here?
I feel fortunate that I am semi-retired and can do a variety of things. I volunteer at the Oregon Humane Society with my wife, work part-time, bike, hike, and travel (especially to our National Parks) and to Austin, Texas, where our daughter lives.