State Child Protection Day observed in Assam’s Darrang District
Published on March 5, 2020
PEMBROKE, MA: Acella Construction Corporation (www.acellaconstruction.com), a leader in construction management throughout greater Boston, will host a bike drive Sunday, April 5, 2020, at its Pembroke location (38 Washington Street), in partnership with Bikes Not Bombs.
This is a great opportunity for people to take their older, no longer needed bicycles and put them to good use! Bikes Not Bombs, founded in 1984, is a registered 501 (c)3 non-profit which creates local and global programs to provide skill development, jobs, and sustainable transportation. They do this in large part through these bike drives. Each year Bikes Not Bombs collects approximately 5,000 used bicycles and, literally, tons of used parts from supporters around greater Boston and New England. Most of the bikes are shipped overseas to economic development partners in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Some of the bikes are repurposed in the organization’s youth programs where teens learn bicycle safety and mechanical skills in the process of earning bikes to keep for themselves. Some of the donated bikes are sold through the Bikes Not Bombs bike shop, which reconditions and sells some of the bikes, while at the same time employing graduates of their programs. The shop’s profit from the sales of bicycles, parts and repairs also goes toward funding the organization’s youth and international work.
The Acella event takes place Sunday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Acella Construction Company, 38 Washington Street (Route 53), Pembroke. Area residents are encouraged to bring their bikes and bike parts to Acella. They are looking for:
Items that wouldn’t be acceptable include anything with significant rust from having been outside for long periods of time, kick scooters, motorized equipment, tricycles, trail-a-bikes, and exercise equipment.
Dave Dirubbo, President of Acella Construction, is an avid mountain biker, as are others on the Acella team. It’s not uncommon for Dave and some of his co-workers to take an extended lunch break and ride through Wompatuck State Park in nearby Hingham. He is active in the sport, and sponsors a youth mountain biking club, the Wompatuck Warriors, a group of more than 35 youths, ranging in age from 7th to 12th grades. He said that he first became aware of the Bikes Not Bombs bike drive two years ago when he sought to honor a wish of his father who had recently passed away. “He had ten bikes in four different states and had wanted to donate them to a good cause.” Seeking to fulfill his father’s wish is what led him to Bikes Not Bombs.
He added, “We are big fans of biking and are thrilled to be able to do something which will put no longer needed bikes to good use.” The bike drive has the endorsement of the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA), which helps run a series of these drives throughout the region.
“This is a great opportunity to do something positive,” said Dirubbo, who added, “We are hoping to have a large number of bicycles brought to our location. We will have our team in place to unload and accept the bikes. Please come by and be a part of this bike drive and let’s all pitch in to help those who are in need.” Acella will provide a tax receipt for the donation, and also encourages donors to consider an optional $20 donation to BNB for each bike which helps with the overseas shipping.