Aubree's to hold fundraiser for boy whose bike was stolen during Heritage Festival preparations
After someone stole Jordan Selano-Reed’s bike as he helped set up a model train display to promote the Ypsilanti Freighthouse during the Heritage Festival, the 16-year-old Ypsilanti resident said his faith in the community was shaken.
But through the actions of a friendly neighbor, Aubree’s and a general show of support from the community, Selano-Reed says his faith in Ypsilanti has been restored.
On Tuesday, Sept. 13, Aubree’s will hold a fundraiser to replace Selano-Reed’s bike. Anyone in the community can bring in a flier for the event and 30 percent of their bill goes toward a fund for Selano-Reed.
“I would say I’m extremely thankful for this,” Selano-Reed said. “Not only with Aubree’s, but also with a lot of the people who I work with at the Ypsilanti Freighthouse, the people in the Ypsilanti Model Railroad Club and general community members who have shown genuine concern.
“It means a lot to me it shows that there is more to the community than whoever stole the bike.”
The bike was a gift from the boy's parents as a reward for his hard work in school and life. Selano-Reed is an aspiring U.S. congressman who is described by community members as “wise beyond his years” and is a model student at Divine Child High School.
He is also an avid cyclist who takes day trips across the region on his bike and uses it as transportation to get to the various community events in which he is involved, such as serving on the Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse board. But Selano-Reed’s mother recently lost her job and couldn’t afford to buy him a new bike.
Selano-Reed was devastated when his bike was stolen Aug. 17.
Chad Clay, director of operations for Aubree’s and Selano-Reed’s neighbor, said the boy is always on the bike, so when he read about the theft, he discussed with manager David O’Brien how the restaurant could help.
Normally, the “dine and donate” program offers 15 percent of the restaurant's tabs to a cause and requires that a participating group pass out fliers and promote the event. But for Selano-Reed, Aubree’s is helping print and pass out fliers, holding the event during bike night, upping the contribution to 30 percent and extending the hours people can contribute to 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
“We’re all about the community and helping out the best way we can,” Clay said. “We want Jordan to know there are people in the community who do care and aren’t about bringing others down.”
Jordan Selano-Reed’s mother, Helena Selano-Reed, said while she sometimes gets upset when she reads about what is happening in Ypsilanti or Ypsilanti Township, her son always defends his city. She said the show of support has also restored her faith in Ypsilanti.
“The community came through just like I’ve always said they do,” Jordan Selano-Reed said.
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