BBP saved my life. Will you help save BBP?
I’m writing you from my BBP satellite space during this unprecedented time.
I wanted to share a personal story that I’ve shared with some of our staff and members I’m closest to, but that I haven’t really broadcast openly over the past 2 years of my employment at the beautiful place.
BBP saved my life. I mean that. I came to BBP in January 2018 a pretty broken person. I had lost direction and was really unclear on how to match my personal values to the work I was doing. I was exhausted by a life of excess; and I was doing work that I felt was harming this world, rather than helping it. I was suffering.
One day, I asked my husband what our lives would be like if I chose to do work as if money wasn’t an issue. What would I want to do? The answer was that I’d come here, to BBP, to do work to transform our community with a tool that I love: the bicycle.
I have been honored to be a part of team BBP, doing work that I know makes a difference. Here’s what I know:
We provide over 1,000 bicycles to kids each year, an instant tool for connection when so many other aspects of their lives are uncertain.
We provide low cost bicycles, work/trade opportunities, and education to adults who have no other source of transportation.
We have a membership program that creates community for our nearly 1000 members.
Riding a bicycle can change your life. It’s healthy, it’s mindful, it’s sustainable, it’s fun.
Our doors are closed right now. However, we are still able to employ our FULL staff to do work that’s making an impact now and that will make an even bigger impact soon, when we are able to open our doors again and resume “normal” operations.
With no steady source of income through our refurbished bicycle and shop sales, our operating account is draining daily. We have reviewed the numbers and made contingency plans. We know what we need. We need $10,000 in contributed income each month so that we can stay above water. With these funds, we can avoid mass layoffs. I can’t tell you how much that matters to me, as a person who cares so deeply about each and every one of our 17 team members.
However, the impact of your donation is so much greater than just keeping our staff intact. We are still working modified schedules. We are working daily to find ways to continue to serve our community members most in need right now. While our physical space is closed to keep the community safe from COVID-19, we know how many people out there need their bicycles for transportation. We are doing everything we can to create safe solutions for us to continue to serve these people through this crisis. We don’t want to say no to those people who have no other options. Each donation will allows to continue to do this work right now.
If you are able, please donate so that we can continue to employ a staff whose work is critical to community viability. $5 covers the cost of a tube for someone out there in need. $12 covers the hourly wage of a mechanic who can keep creating quality, affordable, bicycles even while our doors are closed. $50 covers the full cost of refurbishing a bicycle for a child in need.
In the coming days, we will be sharing stories about the work we are still doing right now and the safety precautions we are taking to continue to get bicycles and equitable transportation options out to the community. Please donated here to help us keep on keeping on.
My best intentions for your health, happiness, and human connection are with you right now. I truly believe that we will emerge from this crisis more connected to what matters most.