Thank you for your patience as we all adapted to sheltering-in-place. We have missed being open!
Starting June 1 we will slowly reopen the Bike Co-op, the Tool Library, and the Veggie Oasis. They will look a little different than they have in the past. We want to provide you the services you need while also protecting the safety and health of our community. We will carefully monitor our progress and expand our services as soon as we are able. Doing it right is better than doing it fast.
The WBRP building is closed to walk-in traffic for the month of June and we will update everyone on our plans for July as soon as possible. Follow our Facebook page for ongoing news. If you would like to donate to the WBRP to help us at this time, we would appreciate your support.
If you come to the WBRP for bikes, tools, or food, you must wear a mask and follow all social distancing guidelines. Community health and safety are our priorities. Thank you for your cooperation!
Bike Donations, Repairs and Sales
Bike donations, repairs, and sales will be available with limited hours and only by appointment for now. We are doing our best to get you riding again!
Bike donations are accepted on:
Tuesday and Thursday nights from 5-7pm.
We need your old youth and adult bikes! Please do not leave bikes anywhere on WBRP property if there is no one to accept them.
Bike repairs must be scheduled in advance and are available:
Monday and Wednesday from 2-4pm.
There is an air pump in front of the building on Washington and we will be installing a tool station very soon! We have some flat tire repair kits so if you need one, just send us a message.
Bike purchases can be made by checking out our Facebook page. We can arrange for you to test ride and buy your bike and you can pay online or in person with cash, card or personal check.
Contact our Bike Co-op team at bikecoop@westbloomington.org or via Facebook.
Tool Library
The Tool Library will reopen by trying something NEW: curbside tool rental and return. We are happy we can get you the tools you have been waiting for!
See below for the curbside pick up instructions.
Tool Check Out Plan
Current members can see what tools are available in our inventory.
Complete a Tool Library curbside order form here.
Volunteers will pull orders for you and may reach via email, phone, or text if there are questions about your request.
You will get a confirmation text message when your order is ready for pickup.
Pick up hours are the same as tool return, see below.
All pick up is “no contact” and will be managed curbside. Masks and social distancing are absolutely required. For now, all rentals are for one week.
Tool Returns
If you have had a tool checked out to you while we have been closed, we will accept your returns on any of the following days:
Tuesday and Thursday nights from 5-7pm
Wednesday and Saturday morning from 9-Noon.
All tool return is “no contact” and will be managed at the garage (behind the building off Allin Street and the alley). If you need other arrangements to make a return, please let us know.
Veggie Oasis
We know so many of our neighbors have missed the Veggie Oasis. We are partnering with Beacon of Hope to reopen the Veggie Oasis program on Thursday, June 4 but it, too, will look different. To protect everyone’s health and safety, food will not be out on the tables for visitors to make selections.
Food delivered to the WBRP will be packaged into identical bags for distribution. Bags will be available on Washington Street. Time right now is TBD but we will post updates. You must follow all social distancing guidelines and wear a mask in order to get in line for a bag. Each person can have one bag and we will give away everything we have.
The giveaway of fresh produce from the farmers’ market will not be available until the market returns to the square. Please know that our new Little Free Pantry in front of the office is stocked with non-perishable items and is available at any time.
COVID-19 changed many of the ways we operate but many WBRP programs continue to run and we added some new outreach projects:
The West Bloomington Community Garden is completely full! All plots have been rented. We reserved four plots for a modern day Victory Garden. Fresh produce raised in these plots will make it to the Veggie Oasis tables later in the season.
The WBRP Seed Library has many seeds to share. Visit our webpage for a list of some of the seeds we have in stock. Send us an email and we will package them for you.
The WBRP microloan program is open. Sometimes crisis creates entrepreneurs. If you or someone you know is interested in a very low cost business loan, applications are currently being accepted.
The new WBRP Healthy Eating program allows 40 families to receive a free Community Supported Agriculture share and free grocery delivery
The WBRP Book Bike and the WBRP Barbers with Books programs took a hiatus but you will see books around the neighborhood again this summer. We are also hoping to provide books at summer food programs and in laundromats!
We have a new Little Free Pantry in front of our office at 724 W Washington. It is always open to serve the neighborhood. Donations of non-perishable goods are welcome. Please do not leave food on the benches. There is a second Little Free Pantry at 807 W Washington that also accepts donations.
If you need access to the Internet, use our WiFi. The password is on the front door. Please remain six feet apart on the benches outside to keep everyone safe.
We have a poet and an artist working with us this summer to install a new mural on Allin St. We are looking for youth with creative ideas to assist. More on that soon!
If your family needs help, we encourage you to call PATH at 2-1-1. They are a local hotline for information and referrals for food, housing, and mental health. If you need legal assistance, please call Prairie State Legal Services at (309) 827-5021 or visit www.pslegal.org.
Thank you for your patience while we were closed and for your support as we reopen. For ANY questions or concerns, call us at 309-829-1200 or email info@westbloomington.org and we will return your message within 24 hours.