CARBONDALE, Ill. (WSIL) -- A community is coming together after a local domestic violence center says some of its residents' bikes were stolen on Wednesday.
Organizers at the Survivor Empowerment Center, in Carbondale, said they experienced theft of two bikes from their location.
They said they did not report it to the authorities. However, they did turn to Facebook, sharing with the community their urgent need of bicycle donations.
Development Specialist, Callie Metzger, says the shelter often provides bikes as transportation to residents who might not otherwise have transportation. Metzger says they have been overwhelmed with the support the community has shown since then.
"We have been flooded with community members offering old bikes, bike drives, and suggesting places we could go to find bikes," said Metzger.
Within hours of the post, donations of three brand new bikes came through their doors. They say this is not an uncommon response from the community whenever they make a post communicating the program's needs.
Domestic Violence Program Manager Abby Cullum expressed her gratitude for the community's support during this time.
"Everybody was really excited because it's right in time for the good weather. And, again, it's just one thing that it helps them get to jobs, but it also is a way of kind of getting out of the shelter as well. Nobody asks to come to here, and that's something that we understand. We like them to kind of get outside and enjoy the weather and just kind of live as normal as they can," said Cullum.
