Mennonite Weekly Review

AMERICUS, Ga. — Using bicycles, water bottles and helmets as their tools, 18 riders will travel from Michigan to Florida this summer to create decent housing.

Former Mennonite Voluntary Service worker Ryan Iafigliola, pictured with fellow rider Katherine Stump, will bike with a group this summer from Michigan to Florida, hoping to raise $200,000 for the Fuller Center for Housing. — Photo by Cara Rufenacht/MMN

Ryan Iafigliola, a former Mennonite Voluntary Service participant, will lead these bikers from city to city July 10-Aug. 16, spreading the word about the Fuller Center for Housing and raising money to supplement building projects.

The bike ride will also honor Millard Fuller, the founder of both Habitat for Humanity and the Fuller Center for Housing, who died in February.

Begun in 2005 in Americus, the Fuller Center for Housing continues Fuller’s legacy of providing decent housing for all people. The Fuller Center focuses its efforts on upkeep and renovations to existing homes, including adding handicapped-accessible features and putting on new roofs.

“Millard began to notice that there was a target audience that Habitat couldn’t serve,” Iafigliola said. “For example, elderly people who are living in a home but they don’t have the resources for upkeep. Now people can be blessed by receiving repairs and then help send back a gift that can bless someone else.”

Through MVS Iafigliola served with the Fuller Center for a year. During that time he came up with the idea of a bike ride to raise awareness and funds for the Fuller Center. He modeled his idea on walks across the country that Fuller hosted during the 1980s and 1990s.

After completing his year with MVS, Iafigliola continues to work at the Fuller Center as a staff member.

“God gives us life so that we can give to others,” Iafigliola said. “This program has a tremendous ability to break down barriers and to build relationships.”

Last summer, eight riders raised $135,000 for the Fuller Center. One biker, Katherine Stump, was so inspired by the Fuller Center’s mission that she applied and interviewed for a job. She is now assistant director of communications.

“The bike ride changed my whole perspective,” Stump said. “I had never considered working for a nonprofit before, but for the first time in my life I felt God calling me to do something. It renewed my faith to see people putting their faith into action.”

During the 2009 bike ride, the goal is to raise $200,000. Iafigliola is still looking for riders, for any length of time, from one day to the entire trip.

Leroy Troyer, Fuller Center board chair and longtime supporter, is organizing a building event July 12 in South Bend, Ind., where riders will help to renovate a house alongside people from the community. Bikers will also stay at Kern Road Mennonite Church in South Bend and share with church members about their ride. Members of the congregation will also join the bikers for the first day’s journey.

“In our county, we’re working on a program to eliminate substandard housing,” Troyer said. “The Bible says that with God all things are possible and we’re claiming that. It’s exciting to see young people like Ryan getting involved.”