A group photograph showing members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church's "Bikes from the Heart" ministry gathered outside Sacred Heart Catholic Church in downtown Tampa, Florida, on February 21, 2025. Positioned on the exterior stone steps under arched marble doorways, a group of about twelve volunteers—wearing blue long-sleeved t-shirts, jackets, and casual jeans—pose together behind a light blue step-through bicycle parked on a kickstand in the center foreground. A Franciscan friar in a traditional brown habit stands near the center left among the volunteers under natural daylight.Members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church’s ‘Bikes from the Heart’ ministry outside Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Tampa, Florida on Feb. 21, 2025. Credit: c/o Sacred Heart Catholic Church

A church’s highest function is often reflected in how much help it can offer the most vulnerable in its community. Downtown Tampa’s 121-year-old Sacred Heart Catholic Church has long understood that, and its “Bikes from the Heart” ministry is a good example of that ideal.

Led by lay volunteers (as in non-ordained people), and in partnership with WellBuilt Bikes, the program refurbishes donated used bicycles and parts into working machines that are given to community members struggling with access to reliable transportation.

The operation has redistributed at least 1,000 bikes per year since its inception in 2023 and commemorates its 3,000th donated bicycle this weekend with a blessing of the bikes followed by a three-mile ride from the downtown sanctuary to Sacred Heart’s campus in Tampa Heights.

Chill Bros. ice cream will be distributed on campus where volunteers will also give tours of the “Bikes from the Heart” workshop, which used to be the convent for Sacred Heart’s since-shuttered school.

A press release says, select refurbished bikes will also be on sale at the north campus, with all proceeds benefiting future Bikes from the Heart refurbishments and donations.

Donations will be accepted at the “Bikes from the Heart” blessing of the bikes and group ride happening Saturday, Aug. 15 and starting at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Tampa.

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This article appears in August 13 – 19, 2026.

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Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief…
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