Volunteer Spotlight: Kit Kerkvliet
For the last year, Kit has been bringing his creative genius and love for reuse to our volunteer program. A gifted metalworker and polo bike builder, Kit quickly became a mainstay at our Sunday Drop-In Recycling crew, where he helped remove usable parts from donated bicycles and recycle the rest.
Early this year, Kit took a lead role in our reuse program as the Salvage Support Specialist. If you’ve been digging through the used parts bins in our shop, chances are that you found something that Kit expertly pulled, cleaned and prepared.
Why do you volunteer here?
I appreciate the mission, and to be around knowledge, tools, and involved people.
What is your favorite Community Cycling Center program?
I have been most involved in the reuse and recycling program and therefore favor it; I like the concept of using something to its fullest, even if that is a new purpose completely.
What is your dream bike?
My dream bike is one that meets its function with grace (all bikes are kinda beautiful in some way) and reliability, be it cargo, commute, long or short trips, community building, or solo strength building.
What do you do when you’re not volunteering here?
I construct creative landscape infrastructure; raised beds, fences, gates, arbors, tool sheds, etc, combining cedar, bent steel, and recycled materials. I also create art, focusing on painting and craft at the moment (though sculpture will be back) and curating a bit.
I also play bicycle polo and garden and I just returned from a five-day raft trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in The River of No Return wilderness area.
What’s your favorite thing about Salvage Sundays?
The variety of projects people have and how even the last chance of reuse, before recycle, can excite.
What’s the coolest thing you’ve made out of salvaged bike parts?
Hmmm, I’ve built some stock part freaks and fabricated a monster but enjoy taking lesser beasts and seeing them become polo battle steeds.
What would the title of your biopic be? Who would play you?
I wouldn’t want one. Yet? I guess Depp might make it interesting?