A group of activists in Brattleboro VT are collecting donated bikes for shipment to Ghana, in partnership with Bikes Not Bombs. They have already collected computers and books which will go into this same shipment to Ghana. If you are in the area and would like to donate bikes or volunteer to help flatten and load the bikes, contact Hilary Cooke at hfcooke@verizon.net.

The bikes will go to the new Bikes Not Bombs project in Koforidua, Ghana, where BNB mechanic David Branigan is training disabled people to become bicycle mechanics and run a bikeshop business which they will own cooperatively. Read David's blog about the project at http://bikesnotbombs-eefsa.blogspot.com/ and see photos of the project in its current beginning stages at http://www.flickr.com/photos/bnbghana/.

The books and computers will go to a library in Accra, Ghana, which was built as part of HOYEO - the Homeland Youth Empowerment Project, which was established in 1997 by Brattleboro community members. For more information on the library project and HOYEO, contact Naima K Wade at naimakw@abeautifulsite.org or visit www.abeautifulsite.org

SCHEDULE

(Note that we've been updating this information as we've added more collection days.)

Saturday, November 1st: Bike Collection Day
10:00am to 4:00pm
Dropoff your donated bikes at the Book Press Warehouse


On Going: Flatten and Prepare Bikes For Shipment
Book Press Warehouse, No. Brattleboro, VT
We will have several “work-bees” that will be arranged with specific volunteers. Since each bike requires about fifteen (15) minutes of work prior to shipment, this task is labor intensive but lots of fun. This is a task high school students would enjoy doing if they have a few friends working together.


Saturday, November 8th: Bike Collection Day
10:00am to 4:00pm
Dropoff your donated bikes at the Book Press Warehouse


Sunday, November 9th: Volunteers Needed to Load Bikes and Books
9:00am to Completion
Book Press Warehouse, No. Brattleboro, VT
We really hope to complete the loading in one day. Pizza/Soda at 12:00pm (Noon)
If you have bikes to donate but can't make it on the 1st or 8th, you can bring bikes early on the 9th between 9am and Noon. Please do NOT bring bikes to donate after Noon!

NOTES FOR FOLKS WISHING TO DONATE

Money Donations
To help defray the cost of transportation, we are asking for a voluntary donation of $10.00 to accompany each bike that is dropped off.


Bikes
The roads and terrain in West Africa are demanding for bicycles. And remember, these bikes will be used on a daily basis, 365 days a year!
* Old mountain bikes are best, we will accept ten speed road bikes and, of course, the classic 60’s one speed Schwinn.
* Because of the need for integrity of bicycle components, we are discouraged by Bikes Not Bombs to accept bicycles with heavy rust. That means we can’t accept bikes which have spent significant time out in the weather.

Please help us avoid misunderstandings at the drop off points. We really can’t use the bike if it is covered in rust. Thanks.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Many hands make light work and we can really use your help! Contact Hilary and come out to help on Nov. 1st, Nov. 8th, or days in between.

CONTACT

Hilary Cooke at hfcooke@verizon.net

DIRECTIONS

The Book Press Warehouse is at 22 Browne Court, Brattleboro, VT 05301

Directions:
I-91 to Exit #3
At the Round-a-bout go North on Route 5
Go ¼ mile to Browne Court.
Take a right at Browne Court

Link to Map:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Brattleboro&state=VT&address=22+Browne...