Bike and Build Visits Effingham

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Published on June 24 2016 2:19 pm
Last Updated on June 24 2016 2:20 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

(JOANNA FELSENSTEIN AND DAVE MESSMER OF "BIKE AND BUILD")

Members of a nationwide organization known as Bike and Build visited Effingham Thursday night as part of a cross-country trip to raise awareness of the need for affordable housing.

Dave Messmer of Ithaca, New York and Joanna Felsenstein of Morristown, New Jersey were two of the group of participants ages 19-28 who left New Haven, Connecticut on June 1 with a goal of bike riding to Half Moon Bay, California. Their goal is to "dip their wheels in the water" by August 14.

While biking across the nation, the group is stopping to help houses. The group that visited Effingham is stopping to help in 16 towns along the way. Felsenstein said they offer help with Habitat for Humanity projects, but also work with smaller organizations. As an example, they helped with Youth Build in Louisville, Kentucky.

Another member of the group, Nathalia Penton of Miami, Florida, said they are a diverse group representing many different colleges and various communities across the nation.

Another illustration of the diversity of the participants is that the group that traveled through Effingham is one of eight groups making the cross-country trip utilizing various routes.

St. Anthony High School served as the lodging place for the group Thursday night. They needed a break, having biked 90 miles in the 90+ degree heat on Thursday.

Here's Greg Sapp's conversation with Dave Messmer and Joanna Felsenstein Thursday night at St. Anthony High School...