Volunteer with Bikes Not Bombs!
Bikes Not Bombs simply couldn't function without our tremendous volunteer support. There are many ways to get involved:
Questions?
Reach out to Sara Parra: sarap@bikesnotbombs.org for any volunteer questions.
Stay up to date with all of our volunteer opportunities when you sign up on Bloomerang Volunteer with Bikes Not Bombs! This platform hosts all of our volunteer opportunities and allows you to:
- View and sign up for shifts
- Pick specific jobs and tasks within one shift
- Track your hours, waivers, qualifications, and contact information all in one place!
If you are volunteering on site, please wear clothing that you don't mind getting dirty; closed-toed footwear is required to ensure the safety of all program participants.
Certified Mechanics Mentors
As a CMM volunteer, you don't just teach mechanics — you equip youth with confidence, leadership skills, and a fully refurbished bicycle that provides mobility and independence. This is a 1:1 Skills Exchange: receive 24 hours of expert, comprehensive instructor training, and commit to delivering 24 hours of service during our Spring and Summer 2026 Earn-A-Bike (EAB) sessions.
What You Get: 24 Hours of Intensive Training
From March 3 - 26, 2026, you will master the art of teaching bike mechanics. Our training covers:
- Advanced Pedagogy: Techniques for teaching hands-on skills in a supportive, youth-focused environment.
- Comprehensive Mechanics: Deep dives into hub overhauls, bottom bracket adjustment, wheel truing, and advanced indexing.
- Youth Mentorship: Strategies for engagement, safety, and positive youth development (ages 12-24).
Class Schedule for CMM training:
- March 3 - 26, 2026
- Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:30 to 7:30pm
What We Need: 24 Hours of Transformative Service
Following training, you will fulfill your commitment by assisting in real Earn-A-Bike sessions at our Jamaica Plain Hub. You will be scheduled to support classes during one of our core delivery periods:
- Spring Sessions: April
- Summer Sessions: July and August
EAB Class Times:
- Tuesdays and Thursdays: 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM
- Saturdays: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM (used for make-ups or specialized sessions)
Requirements
Participants must be 18 years of age or older; possess basic bike mechanics; have experience or an interest in working with youth and young adults; able to attend the majority of classes.
How to Apply
- Fill out the application form here.
- Once your application is reviewed, schedule a brief phone interview with BNB program staff.
- Ask three references to fill out this form on your behalf.
- Submit a CORI / background check.
Questions?
Reach out to Elijah Evans: elijah@bikesnotbombs.org
Volunteer Night
Volunteer Night is currently on hold in 2026. Stay tuned for more details later this month!
Any schedule changes will be first posted on our volunteer portal, Bloomerang Volunteer. Pre-registration is required.
Spots are guaranteed for up to 10 registrants. If you would like to bring a group of 6 or more people, please consider scheduling a Volunteer Group.
Need-to-Know information:
- Pre-registration is required. Click here to do so.
- All skill-levels and ages are welcome! Youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Try to wear clothes that can get dirty. Closed-toed footwear is required to ensure the safety of all program participants.
- Occasionally, Volunteer Night will be canceled due to weather or a holiday. Such cancelations will appear in our events list on the home page.
Work may include the following common tasks:
- "Flattening" bikes -- turning the handle bars sideways and the pedals inside-out so that the bikes fit easily into a shipping container to send overseas in our international programs.
- "Stripping" bikes -- taking all the parts off of a frame (needs to be done for bikes that have some broken pieces).
- Sorting parts
- Building up bikes
- General cleaning, housekeeping, and other tasks!
A volunteer coordinator will show you what to do, and no experience is required for Volunteer Night!
Volunteer Apprenticeships
Bikes Not Bombs offers unique volunteer apprenticeship opportunities for people interested in a longer term commitment. Please click on each title to view more details on how to apply on Bloomerang Volunteer.
- Administrative Volunteer - Provide general administrative support, engage the cycling and social justice community to grow our base of supporters.
- Flexible timing available during office hours: Monday to Friday, 9 to 5pm.
- Reach out to Julia Karr, Director of Development for more information: julia@bikesnotbombs.org
- Bike Donations Processor - Join us in processing bike donations that support our mission and help those in need! Get ready to roll up your sleeves and help us process the hundreds of donated bikes we receive each year. Prospective volunteers must:
- Have experience at a previous container loading or 3 volunteer nights;
- Are comfortable lifting and moving bikes;
- Are comfortable working in a warehouse setting or attending pick-ups;
- Have a willingness to get dirty!
- Reach out to Sara Parra for more information: sarap@bikesnotbombs.org
- Bike Refurb Mechanic - Build up recycled and refurbished bicycles for sale and for use in our distribution and education programs. Prospective volunteers must:
- Attend a Volunteer Orientation session to learn more about this role. Stay tuned for an updated session soon!
- Have their mechanic skills assessed by a BNB staff member. This will most likely take place during your orientation session!
- Note: this is a different role from our Certified Mechanics Mentor volunteers. If you are interested in working with youth and young adults, then that program may be of interest to you!
- Reach out to Sara Parra for more information: sarap@bikesnotbombs.org
Volunteer Groups
- We can accommodate smaller groups (of 5 or fewer people) joining us on Volunteer Night, or;
- Larger groups are encouraged to reach out to schedule a stand-alone volunteer event.
Please schedule groups with us at least 2 weeks in advance.
Due to our limited capacity, not all group volunteering requests can be accommodated, but we will do our best to work with you! Please fill out the following form to request a time for your large (5+ people) volunteer group and contact Sara Parra at sarap@bikesnotbombs.org with any questions.
Special Events
We're actively searching for volunteers for our 2026 Bike-A-Thon on Sunday May 17th! Check out the full list of roles and shifts here to sign up.
Help out at big events, such as a container loading, bike drive, or the Bike-A-Thon. Sign up for our E-News to stay up to date on these opportunities as they arise!
Questions about Volunteering at BNB?
Reach out to Sara Parra for more information: sarap@bikesnotbombs.org