BOISE, Idaho — The holidays are inching closer, and the Boise Bicycle Project is kicking its preparations into high gear for the 14th annual Holiday Kids Bike Giveaway!
"This is our very favorite time of year every single year. Since we started this in 2007, we've been donating bicycles to kids during the holiday season and it's just such a bright moment for the kids and for our volunteers," says Jimmy Hallyburton, BBP's founder and executive director. "Kids are referred to us from all across the Valley, kids who need bicycles the most, and we take donated bicycles, our volunteers and our staff fix them up, and we distribute them to these kids."
With COVID-19 impacting normal operations, the usual volume of volunteers is not able to come into the shop to help fix bikes, potentially slowing down efforts to have 500 bikes ready to donate by December 19.
There's also a financial impact BBP needs the community's help to overcome.
"It typically costs us about $50 per bicycle to fix, and that includes a light, a lock, and a helmet, and this year it's costing us about twice that much just because of all the extra challenges that we're facing," says Hallyburton.
Hallyburton says if someone wants to help, they can find a way to volunteer in the BBP building, at home, or during the giveaway next month. There's also a virtual volunteer orientation Wednesday for those who may want to help.
BBP needs your gently-used bicycles, but instead of dropping them off as-is, BBP is asking bikes to be tuned up a little bit before being dropped off to give volunteers time to focus on other bikes.
BBP is also looking for financial donations or inviting people to join the Project to help cover the costs and safety measures being taken for the giveaway.
To find out more about the Boise Bicycle Project, click here or follow the group on Facebook.
