17 days and counting! 10 ways you can make an impact!
We are counting down the days to our 13th annual Holiday Kids Bike Giveaway, and those days are flying fast. There only are 17 of them left! The the big push at hand an only 2.5 weeks to go, we need the entire community to rally behind us. This year, we received 650 applications—that’s more that we’ve EVER done before—and we’ll need every lick of passion to make it happen.
Here are TEN ways you can make an impact:
Adopt a Dream Bike bike or a few! Dream Bike adoptions are how we will make the magic happen for 650 kids! Our online Dream Bike store features all of the drawing and stories submitted by this year’s kids. You can peruse the store and choose the bike(s) that speak to you the most. Adopt away knowing that your contribution is what turns a regular ol’ bike into Dream Bike! Personal recommendation: adopt a blank application, because we never know the barriers that child faced to get their application submitted to us.
Sign up to volunteer. We rely on 100s of volunteers the day of the event. Grab your friends, family, and coworkers and make it a group endeavor!
Lend your time as a data processing, phone calling, or shop helping volunteer. In the next 17 days, the energy in the shop will be BIG and there will be a lot going on with many moving pieces. We need volunteers to help us with a variety of tasks in the shop during office hours (think Monday to Friday 9am - 6pm - we don’t expect you to be available all day, but we’ll take you when you are!) This job is for you if you have great phone skills, are good on the computer, and like to be busy but are comfortable with some down time. We ask our shop helpers to bring a book or an activity to stay busy when there’s time in between tasks. Email info@boisebicycleproject.org to set up these shifts.
Make or purchase yummy treats for the event. In addition to providing 600+ bikes, lights, locks and helmets to our BBP kids, we put on a day-long potluck to ensure our visiting families are well fed. Cookies and sweets are always popular, but consider making or buying sandwiches, or a bulk meal like pizza, pasta, or soup. This year, we are avoiding confusion about volunteer food donations by using a form where you can sign up. Sign up to nourish our community here.
Donate warm items like socks, hats, mittens, gloves, or coats. Anser Public Charter School hosts a warm clothes drive for us, and the more warm items we have to give, the better. Last year, we gave away every single item we had to give; so we know we need to show up with more to offer this year. Now that it’s already December 4, we really need to see these items rolling in. Spread the word to your family and friends! Items can be dropped off at Anser Charter School during school hours (202 E 42nd St, Garden City, ID 83714) or at Boise Bicycle Project during our open hours (Wednesday to Friday 11 - 6, Saturday/Sunday 11 - 5).
DONATE USED KIDS BIKES IN GOOD CONDITION. It takes many, many hands to get 600+ bikes ready to roll away in one day. The sooner you can donate the better. We have a particular need for 16 inch, 24 inch, and small 26 inch bikes in good condition. Kids bikes are “sized” by the diameter of their wheels. On each bike tire, you’ll find a stamped-on size (something like 24x2.0), and that’s how you’ll know the size of the bike. Note: while we appreciate your good intentions to purchase and donate new bicycles, used bicycles do more good. Our skilled mechanics can refurbish bicycles so that they are even better than when they were brand new.
Interpret or help us identify interpreters. We love our New American families and strive to create an inclusive experience. We need language interpreters for many languages: Swahili, Arabic, Somali, Burmese, Cantonese, Dari, Farsi, Dinka, Kirundi, Korean, Pashto, Russian, Tigrina, French & Spanish.
Make a financial contribution. Here’s the truth - as a nonprofit employee, adopting a $50 dream bike is beyond my means. But as a nonprofit employee, I also know that every single dollar counts. When I donate to the nonprofits I choose to support, I know I’ve contributed even when what I have to give is $5. Donating any amount will go toward the $12,000 budget it takes to make this event happen.
Take a bike (or a few) home with you to fix up. The days are counting down, but the number of bikes we need is ticking ever upward! We need all hands on deck! Are you a skilled bike mechanic? We need you! Several of our volunteers choose to take kids bikes home with them to refurbish on their own time. If you have the stand, tools, and time at home, we would love for you to work on bikes for us. Interested? Swing into the shop to talk to Aaron, Christa or Sam, or email us at info@boisebicycleproject.org — the sooner, the better!
Shop local and support BBP financially as we stretch to achieve our budget this year. If you’re buying gifts for bike enthusiasts (yourself included!) we need you to shop with us. We put together a Gift Guide of team favorites for items big and small to spark joy among your bike lovin’ loved ones. HOT TIP: We are doing a pre-order of sweatshirts that I think are pretty darn spiffy. The orders need to be placed by Dec 9th, and I sure would love to see you wearing yours around town. Shop local, support BBP, represent the bike coop you love!
Thank you for believing,
-Em
