tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43515465198792844042024-03-06T12:01:51.240-08:00LIFT Boston Bike ProjectLIFT Boston Bike Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701005661248453noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351546519879284404.post-50733225514635317652013-04-16T11:11:00.001-07:002013-04-16T11:12:31.766-07:00New website: WWW.LIFTBIKEPROJECT.ORG<h2>
We have a new website! Check it out: <a href="http://www.liftbikeproject.org/" target="_blank">www.liftbikeproject.org</a> </h2>
LIFT Boston Bike Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701005661248453noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351546519879284404.post-42366529445345062912012-04-26T10:26:00.003-07:002012-04-26T10:26:26.375-07:00Come to the Give Away at Cambridge City Hall!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dear friends of LIFT and the LIFT-Boston <span>Bike</span> <span>Project</span>,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">We hope to see many of you this Friday as we celebrate the first round of <span>Bike</span> <span>Project</span>
recipients of 2012! <b>Join us at the Cambridge City Hall on Friday,
April 27th at 1:00 P.M. </b>to celebrate the contributions of community
service in exchange for a refurbished bicycle by our local clients in
Cambridge and Somerville. It will be a great way to spend a lunch break
grabbing some light refreshments and congratulating everyone involved in
their efforts! More details below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Sincerely, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The LIFT Bike Project Team </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">LIFT-Boston’s <span>Bike</span> <span>Project</span> Brings Affordable Transportation to Low Income Community Members </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Cambridge, MA—</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">LIFT-Boston will host the second annual <span>Bike</span> <span>Project</span> giveaway on Friday, April 27 at 1:00 pm outside of Cambridge City Hall. The LIFT Earn-A-<span>Bike</span>
Program will hand out 15 free bicycles, helmets, and locks to
low-income individuals who completed ten hours of community service.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The LIFT <span>Bike</span> <span>Project</span>
is supported by many community organizations and city departments. The
event will be incorporated into Green Streets Initiative’s Walk/Ride Day
to encourage eco-friendly transportation methods. The Green Streets
Initiative also helps the LIFT <span>Bike</span> <span>Project</span>
network with the community, build its volunteer base, and increase its
visibility. The Cambridge Department of Public Works donated 100 bikes
to the LIFT <span>Bike</span> <span>Project</span> this year. Bikes Not Bombs, a non-profit <span>bike</span>
shop, will provide mandatory safety training to bicycle recipients. The
Men’s Health League, an initiative of the Cambridge Health Alliance,
works to better the public health of low-income men of color and
supports the event planning and outreach of the <span>Bike</span> <span>Project</span>. Volunteers from Quad Bikes, a non-profit <span>bike</span> shop at Harvard University, refurbished bicycles for the <span>Bike</span> <span>Project</span>. Funding for the <span>Bike</span> <span>Project</span>
was made possible by New England Grass Roots Environment fund. The
event will also include a celebration featuring brief speeches from LIFT
staff and volunteers followed by light refreshments. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The LIFT <span>Bike</span> <span>Project</span>
was created in response to the lack of social services for
transportation in the Boston area. Volunteer advocates noticed a lack of
accessibility for vital transportation services due to financial
barriers. Homeless and low-income individuals earn refurbished bicycles
by completing the ten hours of community service requirement and
attending mandatory <span>bike</span> safety and <span>bike</span> maintenance training. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">LIFT
is a community-based nonprofit organization that operates three
resource centers in the Greater Boston area to help low-income
individuals and families obtain the necessary resources and services
needed to become self-sufficient. LIFT is situated in Cambridge at the
Cambridge Multi-Service Center for the Homeless; in Somerville at The
Family Center; in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston co-located at the
Vine Street Community Center, and all co-locators serve as hubs of
community support for their respective neighborhoods. Since 2001, nearly
200 LIFT Harvard student volunteers have served over 3000 of the
neediest residents in Cambridge. </span>LIFT Boston Bike Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701005661248453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351546519879284404.post-40654624363936552572012-02-22T07:28:00.001-08:002012-02-22T07:28:51.797-08:00Refurb Nation!!<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">To the Refurb Night Krewe,</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Happy Mardi Gras!</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Tomorrow's Ash Wednesday, but we'll be trading ash on our foreheads for a little grease and maybe even some beads :). Last Refurb night was</span><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> beaucoup </i><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">(look it up) fun! There were some new faces as well as some old. To all: Welcome! As always, pictures of the madness can be seen on our Facebook page at </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/LIFTbikeproject" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>LIFTbikeproject</a><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Last week we also got a big shipment of bikes from our new best friends over at Cambridge DPW and we still need a lot of help to get them in riding shape so join me tomorrow night at Quad Bikes from 7-9, no previous experience necessary.</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Cheers, </div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Ben Sommer</div>LIFT Boston Bike Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701005661248453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351546519879284404.post-89831949500863385052012-02-17T09:10:00.000-08:002012-02-17T09:10:17.219-08:00New Bike ShipmentThe Cambridge DPW dropped of ten bikes to our location at Quad Bikes this past Wednesday. We're geared up to get them in riding shape! Check them out on our Facebook album from the last refurb night: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.350563521644571.92379.328683173832606&type=1">http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.350563521644571.92379.328683173832606&type=1</a>LIFT Boston Bike Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701005661248453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351546519879284404.post-21210424248699208062012-01-31T14:21:00.000-08:002012-01-31T14:21:41.883-08:00Refurb Nights! Hey everyone!<br />
<div><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It's that time of year, the time you've all been waiting for, the return of REFURB NIGHTS for the LIFT Bike Project! Refurb Nights will be Wednesdays from 7-9pm starting February 1st at Quad Bikes. I look forward to meeting all of the veterans of refurb nights, as well as some fresh faces (including my own). We have the goal of giving away 100 bikes this year, so there is a lot of work to be done. Thank you so much for your commitment to the Bike Project and to the communities of the Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston. </div></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">No previous bicycle mechanic experience required, just a desire to learn and have fun! Also, don't forget to like our brand new facebook page at: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/LIFTbikeproject" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>LIFTbikeproject</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">.</span> </div>LIFT Boston Bike Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701005661248453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351546519879284404.post-16799553494750495552011-10-25T05:32:00.000-07:002011-10-25T05:32:30.959-07:00Success Story of LIFT Bike Project RecipientBill earned a bike from the LIFT Bike Project in the spring of 2011.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6HI6ipJlXFmXqs368Y-7ccJ-YcvnxQ2pM6WXZ4F4YLSBdE-40g5puq-_wyiaU7NzlkY2-IyeGkkjaH8sHwe9A4hyphenhyphenkca0lvdpeT08pYSLmgq89KUtUx8xgiJpQjLgi5u3D5eOsnowlmg/s1600/42a35505dabe860dcdeb51f92d5be768_S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6HI6ipJlXFmXqs368Y-7ccJ-YcvnxQ2pM6WXZ4F4YLSBdE-40g5puq-_wyiaU7NzlkY2-IyeGkkjaH8sHwe9A4hyphenhyphenkca0lvdpeT08pYSLmgq89KUtUx8xgiJpQjLgi5u3D5eOsnowlmg/s1600/42a35505dabe860dcdeb51f92d5be768_S.jpg" /></a> <br />
<div class="itemIntroText btmmargin"> After working over 25 years in the hospitality industry and working his way up to managerial positions, Bill Viera was laid off from his hotel job in 2007. He lived off of his savings for three years and struggled to find work, and he was eventually forced into a homeless shelter. With the help of a long-term advocate, Bill was able to turn his life around with a new job with a local retailer, better healthcare, and renewed optimism about finding a permanent home.<br />
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</div><div class="itemFullText btmmargin"> Living in the shelter, Bill continued volunteering as a cook for residents to maintain his skills. The shelter referred Bill to LIFT, and Bill’s advocate Brittni worked with him to first find employment so that he could save up for permanent housing. LIFT worked with Bill to create a resume, prepare for interviews, and improve his computer proficiency, and also linked him to free interview attire and computer classes. Brittni quickly realized that Bill's dental and heart issues were preventing him from securing employment, both physically and in employers’ perceptions of him. She says, "Bill's teeth were literally rotting out of his head. While we worked to resolve Bill’s insurance issues, we looked into Boston Healthcare for the Homeless, which offers free health care for homeless individuals. We were able to set him up with a regular primary care physician as well as a dentist." The dentist extracted his rotten teeth and made plans to fit him for dentures. Eventually LIFT was able to not only resolve his insurance issues, but upgrade his coverage package, in addition to setting personal health and weight loss goals that have enabled Bill to enjoy the new bicycle he received from LIFT.<br />
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Of his journey, Bill says, "Other organizations would maybe do an orientation with me then send me on my way. LIFT had a more hands-on and personal approach. I was in a spiral when I first came in, but immediately after working with LIFT I was calmer. My advocate didn’t let me get down or depressed, and she assured me success would happen. Most importantly, LIFT made me feel important and I wasn’t feeling that way at the time when I first came in. Now, I love my job. Interacting with people is just amazing. I am so much happier, I smile a lot more. I see myself managing the store, volunteering, and teaching. I see myself housed. Now that I’ve been homeless, I really want to help more because there is a need for more voices out there for the homeless."<br />
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Source: http://www.liftcommunities.org/boston/our-work/clients/item/498-bill-vieraLIFT Boston Bike Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701005661248453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351546519879284404.post-76857363726081996582011-07-25T21:26:00.000-07:002011-07-25T21:27:00.871-07:00Press in the Metro!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nJ9tegYDwrizKJ5G5lN4lTpLWwcLJW2gZM_Saec0qkpLlquyFz1MwFNGfYVgdJNF0G1hGh9JGbbaWMpulz4RjUYWjJoIM_j11aABf25ifCJA-qEUJXNit4zLzd0RsBYmLB2b_YBWD68/s1600/Bike+Project+in+Metro%252C+spring+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nJ9tegYDwrizKJ5G5lN4lTpLWwcLJW2gZM_Saec0qkpLlquyFz1MwFNGfYVgdJNF0G1hGh9JGbbaWMpulz4RjUYWjJoIM_j11aABf25ifCJA-qEUJXNit4zLzd0RsBYmLB2b_YBWD68/s400/Bike+Project+in+Metro%252C+spring+2011.jpg" width="371" /></a></div>LIFT Boston Bike Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701005661248453noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351546519879284404.post-84884261731907946842011-07-25T21:21:00.000-07:002011-07-25T21:21:27.139-07:00Press in the Wellesley Townsman!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiWuqfqxzZ3SBoMeA3GmUlHkTK6o5NNi3ABEE3HAiJdzdl4fzdppM5CotoSgVJFz2aIDU5Alr3ZhlI91cbcyQQJNzcEW4B9Dw-3SoxOv1g2XNRZd1xjwkaTlnRNmVFdUAVFqRRhPVez4/s1600/Wellesley+Townsman+Article%252C+pg+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiWuqfqxzZ3SBoMeA3GmUlHkTK6o5NNi3ABEE3HAiJdzdl4fzdppM5CotoSgVJFz2aIDU5Alr3ZhlI91cbcyQQJNzcEW4B9Dw-3SoxOv1g2XNRZd1xjwkaTlnRNmVFdUAVFqRRhPVez4/s640/Wellesley+Townsman+Article%252C+pg+1.jpg" width="464" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebDZTH1rpTSNhTNdb4xnGOiPoKcIyYRqcG4aMjDq_OzhlShseDPGH2qiwzQWVSO9LzptSgn6d1nqzUvrV_acpIzcqcUyOGP5Iozj6V5qvD3nGS4CuLvJXi6bjsx0FURL3ln0GIq7skMU/s1600/Wellesley+Townsman+Article%252C+pg+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebDZTH1rpTSNhTNdb4xnGOiPoKcIyYRqcG4aMjDq_OzhlShseDPGH2qiwzQWVSO9LzptSgn6d1nqzUvrV_acpIzcqcUyOGP5Iozj6V5qvD3nGS4CuLvJXi6bjsx0FURL3ln0GIq7skMU/s640/Wellesley+Townsman+Article%252C+pg+2.jpg" width="464" /></a>LIFT Boston Bike Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701005661248453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351546519879284404.post-68317423924950087532011-04-06T13:46:00.000-07:002011-04-06T13:46:11.655-07:00Make a tax-deductible donation!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Your donations are needed to help us buy new parts for refurbished bikes, new helmets, and new locks! Please follow these simple steps to make your donation today! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go to <a href="http://www.liftcommunities.org/">http://www.liftcommunities.org/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the upper right corner, click the orange button labeled as “DONATE”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When this page is open, scroll down to where it says: “I would like to designate my gift to a specific office”. Click on the drop down menu and select “Boston” as the office you want your gift to be directed to.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Continue and scroll down to the bottom of this page, up to section designated for “Additional Information” and type “Gift for LIFT Bike Project” on the box for additional comments. Once you are done, just click “Continue” to complete your donation.</span></div>LIFT Boston Bike Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701005661248453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351546519879284404.post-66676882648371748462011-03-14T10:13:00.000-07:002011-03-19T16:09:53.735-07:00Article in Cambridge Chronicle!Read about us in the Cambridge Chronicle: <a href="http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/features/x698036654/Cambridge-bike-program-helps-homeless#axzz1GarCZMZb">Cambridge Bike Program Helps Homeless</a><br />
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See photos of us in the Cambridge Chronicle: <a href="http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/photos/x1512110470/Bicycle-program-in-Cambridge-gives-clients-a-LIFT">Bicycle Program in Cambridge Gives clients a LIFT</a>LIFT Boston Bike Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701005661248453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351546519879284404.post-62701024692596558072011-02-11T10:19:00.000-08:002011-02-11T10:19:36.891-08:00What is the LIFT Boston Bike Project?Hi all!<br />
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The LIFT Boston Bike Project is a program to provide homeless and low-income LIFT clients living in the Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston areas with free helmets, locks, and refurbished bicycles. LIFT is a nonprofit which helps combat poverty by pairing trained volunteers with homeless and low-income clients. Volunteers work one-on-one with clients on a variety of services including finding jobs and securing safe and stable housing. <br />
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The LIFT Boston Bike Project was created in response to the lack of social services for transportation in the Boston area. Over the years, volunteers noticed that many LIFT clients have been unable to access existing social services because they can not afford to take the T. In 2008, Liz Powers, a LIFT-Cambridge volunteer, read about an impressive program in Chicago that helped provide free, sustainable transportation to community members: The Recyclery (www.therecyclery.org). This nonprofit gives about 80 bikes, helmets, and locks each year to homeless individuals, refugees, and other individuals in need. Liz was inspired and decided to replicate this program!<br />
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Th LIFT Boston Bike Project launched in the fall of 2009, when 5 LIFT clients each received a helmet, lock, and bicycle. In the spring of 2010, 10 more LIFT clients received helmets, locks, and bicycles. Clients have reported that receiving a bike has helped them get back on their feet, commute to new jobs, and exercise more often. We are continuing to grow, and more clients will receive helmets, locks, and bicycles in spring of 2011. <br />
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Clients earn their bike by volunteering in the community for at least 10 hours and attending required bike safety education and basic bike maintenance training. <br />
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<u><b>If you would like to get involved you can:</b></u><br />
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<b>1. Help refurbish bikes:</b> Come to Quad Bikes on Mondays from 7-9 P.M. to help refurbish bikes. Even if you are not a bike mechanic, you can certainly help us clean up and you can learn how to fix bikes!<br />
<ul><li>Quad Bikes is located just outside of Harvard Square at 51 Shepard St. (at the corner of Shepard and Walker Streets)</li>
<li>www.quadbikes.org</li>
<li><span class="alignleft">Quad Bikes Phone Number: 617-496-5955</span></li>
</ul><b>2. Donate your gently used bike! </b>Drop off your bike Quad Bikes Tu-Sat 1-6:30 P.M. We will provide receipts for your tax-deductible donation! <br />
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<b>3. Provide monetary donations. </b>Please email us if you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation! Your donation will help us purchase bike parts, helmets, and locks. <br />
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If you would like to get involved and/or have any questions, please contact us at <b>LIFTBostonBikeProject@gmail.com. </b><br />
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If you would like to learn more about LIFT, please visit our website: www.liftcommunities.org. <br />
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Sincerely,<br />
Liz Powers<br />
LIFT Boston Bike Project Founder and DirectorLIFT Boston Bike Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701005661248453noreply@blogger.com0