After 16 years at BBP, I’m not sure why this community still surprises me. There are so many obstacles you’ve helped us overcome, so many miracles you’ve made happen, and so many challenges you’ve stepped up to take on. Well, you did it again this week during Idaho Gives with $101,594 raised by 400 unique donors in just 4 days! Only 3 other nonprofits in Idaho Gives history have cracked the $100,000 mark.

This morning I biked into BBP, trying to beat a quickly approaching rain storm, but thinking about the bright road ahead empowered by the gifts of this community. I thought a lot about the kids we serve, knowing that they might be biking to school in another part of town, trying to beat out the same rainstorm. Rain or shine, I know some of our kids are out there riding every day. In many one-car or no-car households walking or riding are the only options. 

I thought about Juma, one of my all time favorite BBP kiddos, riding in the rain this morning. Juma arrived in Boise as a refugee about 4 years ago. He’s received one bicycle from BBP and two hand-me-downs from his older brother (also BBP bikes). Today, on Juma’s commute to school, he crossed Milwaukee Blvd, Ustick Ave, and maybe had a bike lane for 25% of his ride. I’m sure he mostly rode on the sidewalk popping wheelies and using every driveway curb as a launching ramp along the way. 

Kid’s like Juma, despite facing countless barriers, are already defying the odds. He and his family have already overcome challenges that most people could never imagine. With your generous gifts to BBP during Idaho Gives, surpassing our $90,000 goal and breaking into six-digit figures, you’ve given BBP an opportunity to break down even more barriers for families across Boise. On my rainy ride in, that was the bright road ahead that filled my thoughts. 

So what’s next? 

First, is celebration. Everyone who gave, all of the volunteers that participated this week, and our staff (especially our Development Director and Idaho Gives architect, Tim Glaza), need to celebrate all that BBP and the nonprofit sector accomplished over the last 4 days. Second, is putting the $101,594 to work. And there are several ways we can do that. I’ll keep it to three. 

1. Join our Advocacy Committee: If you want to help us fight for safe equitable infrastructure, canal pathways, traffic gardens, and a built environment that prioritizes people over automobiles. Our Advocacy Committee is the best place to start. 

2. Join or expand your role on our volunteer team: From teaching kids how to fix their bicycles, to helping around the shop, to writing thank you cards, there is opportunity for YOU to make a difference at BBP. 

3. Ride your bike: Every single time you ride your bike, you are not only investing in your own physical and mental health, you are taking a stand for climate action and social justice. When you ride, you make it safer for the kids we donate bicycles to, you inspire others to join you, and you connect to the community in a way you never will inside of a car. Even if you can’t ride all the time, swapping out one car trip for a bicycle trip makes a difference.

You started something truly amazing this week with your support during Idaho Gives. And now… the best part and real work begins!

Ride on Boise! 

Jimmy Hallyburton.