BBP has the best volunteers... ever. So what are they up to?
Boise Bicycle Project will be closed until further notice, but we have so many donations that we’ve collected over the last few months that are ready for some TLC, new parts, and to ultimately be resold to a new owner! (maybe you!)
Since we are closed, we have set up opportunities for our volunteers to pick up bicycles and fix them up at their home. We are so lucky for our volunteers, and grateful we have found a way for them to continue their own impact. Our volunteer Don, shares his thoughts…
This is a critical time for BBP but a great opportunity to build up some bicycle inventory. When the general call came from our community leaders for people to work from home as much as possible I didn't think I would be one of them (retired from my paying job in 2015). Then the call came asking for volunteers to adopt bicycles to be worked on at home. Yes! Of course I'll help! I really miss being with all the great people at BBP, but my own set-up is right there in the garage. Pretty close. And the music and frig are close by too. None of us really know how long this new normal will last, but I will continue to adopt bicycles and help bolster inventory for the duration. Go Team!!
Once the volunteers finish them, sanitize and return them to BBP, they will be used in many ways!
Some bikes will be sold on our new Online Bikes page for purchase. A bike is a great way to get a break outside, and with Spring in season, new bikes are in season to! This bike was built by our volunteer Bryan Wilkins, and is on sale now!
When individuals pick up a bicycle, we glove up, sanitize it and go outside to place it in a place where they can grab it while maintaining a 6ft distance. Purchases are made online or over the phone so we don’t have to handle money or cards.
Kid bikes will be given away to kiddos, like this one Chris is working on! We cannot host our typical Kid BASH’s, but we are still delivering bikes to kids who need one!
Christa and Jimmy have worked hard to ensure we sanitize bikes ready for deliver, wear gloves when delivering them, and keeping a 6ft distance from kids while teaching them the bike ABCs and traffic safety skills.
Not to mention, Christa does it all by bike! Check out her blog post to learn more about her experience.
Other bikes have potential to be given to someone in need through our voucher program, or to a Shifting Gears and Operation Kickstand graduate, perhaps this one that Nancy finished!
Whoever the bike goes to, they will be riding in our community, running into Goatheads and discovering street designs that work -and don’t work- in our city. Once this is over, we will be out their picking goatheads, advocating for safer streets, and resuming our work to create Pathways on Canals. As a BBP Member, you support these efforts.