A Tough Situation. Prison. A New Opportunity.

“I want a bike because my grandma can’t get it because we are in a tough situation where she can’t pay for a bike”

This was one of the first Holiday Kids Bike Giveaway “Dream Bike” drawings we received this year. It came in last Thursday, one day before the registration deadline. As of today we’ve received about 500 more, and it is safe to say that almost all of the kids are coming from tough situations.  

A tough situation can mean a lot of things. Grandma’s ability to pay offers some other clues to the obstacles Tommie might be facing. In this case, similar to many of our kids living with Grandma and Grandpa, it means Tommie has one or more parents that are incarcerated. And it means there are many people within this story living in a tough situation. 

Tommie is going to get a Dream Bike from BBP on Dec 21st. Together we will make that happen. The used bike will arrive to BBP as donation from someone like you. A benevolent community member, also like you, will adopt Tommie’s bike and cover the cost of repair. Volunteers like you will transform it into better than new condition. And Tommie will ride away feeling all of the freedom and opportunity a bicycle can create.

Together we’ve created a path that’s made tough situations a little brighter for 1000s of kids like Tommie. As of today, there is a new opportunity to create a pathway for individuals (many of them parents) working hard for a second chance after incarceration.

A New Opportunity:

The success of BBP’s Shifting Gears Program that serves incarcerated women is pretty well know. The video to the right might serve as a good refresher. Now we are working on a new program called Operation Kickstand that would create similar opportunities for incarcerated veterans at the Idaho Department of Correction men’s facilities. In addition to all of the successful elements of Shifting Gears, Operation Kickstand will incorporate a new accredited Bicycle Mechanic Apprenticeship program offering job skills and placement to participants after they’re released. We believe the job training element of this program will also create over 100 bicycles for BBP’s teen programs in its first year.

The only thing preventing BBP from launching an all-encompassing pilot program for Operation Kickstand is funding. About $10,000 to be exact.

But today, BBP was approached by donors Lori and Chris Ode with an offer to match all community donations to Operation Kickstand up to $5000. That means your donation of $25 is actually worth $50. $100 is worth $200. $500 is worth $1000… With your help, this pilot program could be funded by the end of the year.

There are so many ways to have an impact at BBP, but it’s pretty rare that we have an opportunity to double your donation. If you have the ability, please consider making a contribution to this new life-transforming program.

Want to learn more about Operation Kickstand and BBP’s work with incarcerated individuals? More details coming on Giving Tuesday (November December 3rd), but feel free to contact Jimmy@boisebicycleproject.org with questions and/or donation inquiries in the meantime.

Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!