Springfield JCC to Host Project R.I.D.E. Adaptive Bike Tune-Up Days
SPRINGFIELD, MA (April 18, 2022) – Kehillah, the Special Needs Department of the Springfield Jewish Community Center, will host its annual Project R.I.D.E. bike tune-up days on Sunday, April 24, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM and Monday, April 25, from 3:00 to 6:00 PM. The events will be held outside at the J (1160 Dickinson Street, Springfield).
Now in its 15th year, Project R.I.D.E., which stands for Recreation, Independence, Development, and Equipment, loans modified tricycles to children and young adults with special needs. In addition, the program provides information about a variety of adaptive sports opportunities in Western Massachusetts.
This year, as a courtesy to program participants, the J is utilizing its fleet of vehicles to pick up and drop off bikes from community members as the adaptive trikes do not easily fit into traditional cars.
“Project R.I.D.E is one of the most transformative programs that our Kehillah Department offers,” said Deb Krivoy, JCC COO. “Riding a bike gives everyone the feeling of freedom and mobility, and to be able to tune up and loan out adaptive bikes ensures that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the wind flowing through their hair as they bike around their neighborhood!”
From Massachusetts to Vermont, and from Connecticut to New Hampshire to Maine, the J’s recreational adaptive tricycles have traveled all across New England, offering hundreds of individuals with unique needs the opportunity to participate in bike riding with their friends and families.
About the Kehillah Program:
Kehillah means “community” in Hebrew. The mission of Kehillah, the Special Needs Department of the Springfield JCC, is to provide quality recreational, social, and enrichment programs for children, teens, and adults with special needs. Kehillah’s goal is to create a feeling of community at the J, while fostering a fun and welcoming environment for individuals of all abilities. All Kehillah programs provide a supervised, safe, and nurturing inclusive environment for participants to enjoy themselves, build self-esteem, increase independence, experience new places and things, improve social skills, and cultivate meaningful relationships.
For more information about Kehillah and Project R.I.D.E., contact Gabrielle Rooney at (413) 739-4715 or grooney@springfieldjcc.org.