Our good friends at RUBARB need your help!

This was sent to me from Liz of RUBARB. If you can help in anyway, please contact them!

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dear fans and friends of RUBARB--

we are closing down!! st mary of the angels, where we have been for over
4 years and have evolved into something quite wonderful, has asked us to
leave their property. they want us to get some crazy insurance we can't
afford and want us out by JULY 10th. we are respecting their request,
ending operation on that day and are planning to spend the following week
moving everything out. prior to that, on JUNE 26th, we will be having a
"repair-a-thon" and a farewell party. we want to get rid of some bikes
that remain, raise money, reflect on some great years, thank the church
and entire community, and most importantly... have fun!

so we need your help!

now more than ever. we need to find a temporary space to store our stuff
(if you can think of a potential spot, please let me know). we eventually
need a place to relocate to (we want to stay in the 9th w/d). we need
folks who would want to help repair bikes during the "repair-a-thon." we
could use people to perform during the party. we need people to help
break down the shop on JULY 10th and eventually help us move out by JULY
17th. we sound so needy, but it's true!

the most important thing to me, is the kids. i've seen a lot of them grow
up in that place, maturing, learning, playing, having a safe positive
environment to just BE. it's sad to think that they'll have no place to
go, esp on saturdays when we're crawling with kids (i'm hoping we can set
up on a corner somewhere while we're temporarily closed, to let kids fix
flats, make little adjustments, hang out).

we know everything will work out in the end, it always does. it's taken
hundreds of people from around the city and country to get to where we got
to, and no doubt that will happen again. change is challenging, but
change is good.

thanks for listening! holla at me if you want to lend a hand in any way.
spread this email around. send any contributions to:

RUBARB Community Bike Shop
PO BOX 770340
New Orleans LA 70177

check out our website for updates: www.rubarbike.org

with love and pedal power,
liz

Looking for a bike to rent for Mardi Gras? RUBARB might be able to help!

Apparently I'm not the only one that uses the Bike section on Craigslist to promote my organization. Rubarb posted this today and I thought I should share it with you guys. It's always really hard to find affordable bike rentals in New Orleans, but Rubarb can rent you or your friends bikes in exchange for donated time or money.

we're a community bike shop where you can come and work on your bike freely, learn how to make repairs, volunteer, obtain a bike through work trade or a suggested donation of $40-$75 (depending on the quality, make, etc...). we're also open to rentals for the mardi gras season. (all donations go back into the shop, to purchase tools, art supplies, etc..).

our hours are mon 10-2, wed 3:30-6 and sat 1-6. located on the corner of gallier and tonti in the 9th ward.

www.rubarbike.org

Mapping event this weekend at RUBARB in the Upper 9th

Before you head down to Krewe du Vieux on Saturday, swing up to RUBARB in the Upper 9th. We'll be finishing up the Upper 9th, St. Claude, and 8th Ward areas in pairs or groups. It's open shop at RUBARB on Saturdays, so while we're waiting for everyone to show up or after we finish, you can check out the shop. It's main focus is the earn-a-bike program for kids. They always need adult volunteers though, so you can talk to Liz and Louis about that on Saturday if you're intersted.

Saturday, February 7th, 1pm to 3pm - Upper 9th Ward: Meet at Rubarb community bike shop at N. Tonti St. and Gallier St. behind St. Mary of the Angels Church