'I've gone from stealing bikes to giving them back to the community'
COSHOCTON — A Coshocton man recovering from drug addiction said people might be surprised to find out they're helping him as much he's helping them with his own charitable program.
Phil Hammersley started Bike Angel in 2018. Along with the desire to do good, he said it has been a vital way to keep his mind and hands busy.
Between 2016 and 2020, Hammersley was convicted in three cases in Coshocton County Common Pleas Court for possession of a controlled substance related to methamphetamine and served time in the Coshocton Justice Center. He also completed drug rehab programs and finished his last stint of probation in December. Hammersley said he's been clean and sober for about two years.
"I used to be the one stealing bikes from kids. I've gone from stealing bikes to giving them back to the community," he said. "It motivates me and helps me more than it does them, because I'm in recovery."
He said the program started when he got out of incarceration in 2018 and a friend of his had 20 bicycles he was looking to scrap.
"I went to go get them and there wasn't anything really wrong with any of them. I didn't want to scrap them, so I decided to get on Facebook and that's when I started my page. I did that for about a year and a half and donated nearly 500 bikes here in Coshocton County," Hammersley said.
Hammersley keeps a book with the Bike Angel logo on it listing every bicycle he's given out, which is close to 700. Sometimes friends tell him of someone in need, but it's usually people reaching out through the Facebook page.
"They're just amazed someone of my status and everything I've been through is doing this," Hammersley said. "I like the smile on the kids' face when I give them the bike."
He works out of a garage behind his apartment complex. While it's mostly youth bicycles, he does get some for adults. Sometimes he gets new bikes, but mostly old ones are donated that need some work.
Hammersley said usually the bodies are good and he just needs to replace the tires, brakes and chains. He has received tools and item donations from some local auto part stores. He's got about 40 bicycles now ready to go or he's working on.
For more information on the program and how to donate or request a bicycle, go to the Bike Angel Facebook page.
Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with close to 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on Twitter at @llhayhurst.
This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: 'I've gone from stealing bikes to giving them back to the community'
