Build-a-Bike Belvidere

08/28/2026

We love seeing programs like this bring joy, learning, and opportunity to kids right here in our community. ❤️📚

❤️📚🦋As we all read through the tributes, listen to our favorite Dolly songs, and try to comprehend the incredible impact of her love and generosity, we are reflecting on a very special milestone for our community: one year of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Boone County, Illinois.

What a phenomenal human being Dolly Parton was, and what a remarkable legacy of love she leaves behind. ❤️

In our inaugural year, we have served more than 1,000 children and mailed more than 7,300 books to children ages 0–5 living right here in Boone County. Every one of those books represents an opportunity for a child to discover a new story, learn a new word, share a special moment with a loved one, and develop a lifelong love of reading.

Our one-year anniversary advertisement will appear on the front page of the Shopper today. While we wish we were celebrating this milestone under different circumstances, somehow it feels even more meaningful now.

Dolly’s love lives on. And this book-gifting program represents the very spirit of community she believed in, neighbors coming together to give children the gift of books, imagination, possibility, and a brighter future.

Thank you, Dolly, for showing the world what love and generosity can accomplish. 🦋 📚❤️

If you would like to learn more about the program, register a child ages 0–5 who lives in Boone County, or find out how you can support Imagination Library of Boone County, please contact our office at 815-544-7231 or visit our website.

Her legacy lives on, one child, one book, and one community at a time. ❤️

06/19/2026

Build-A-Bike 2026 may be behind us, but the impact continues.

As we reflect on our 10th Annual Build-A-Bike, we wanted to take one more opportunity to recognize the sponsors and community partners who helped make this milestone year possible.

Thank you for helping us reach more than 1,000 bicycles given away over the past 10 years and for investing in children and families throughout our community.

06/08/2026

A few weeks have passed since our 10th Annual Build-A-Bike, but we're not quite finished talking about it yet.

Along the way, there are always people and organizations who quietly give their time and talents without asking for recognition. One of those is Kegel's Bicycle Store.

Their team spent the afternoon helping make sure bikes and helmets fit each child properly, making an already special day even better. Their knowledge, patience, and attention to detail helped send kids home with bikes that were ready to ride.

Thank you for being part of Build-A-Bike and helping make year 10 such a success.

05/25/2026

A few more bikes. A few more smiles. Build-A-Bike continues. 💙

05/19/2026

Every year, many groups and individuals quietly support Build-a-Bike without asking for anything in return — and sometimes we forget to give them the recognition they deserve.

One of those individuals is Ross Blumenthal with RB Photography & Video. Since Year One, Ross has donated his time and talent by capturing hundreds of professional photos for Build-a-Bike!

Please take a look at some of his amazing work here and be sure to head over to the Build-a-Bike website to check out even more.

Thank you to all of those who volunteer their goods, services, and time to help make Build-a-Bike so special each and every year. We truly couldn’t do it without you.

www.buildabikebelvidere.com

05/14/2026

10 years. 1,000 bikes. One unforgettable moment. 🎉🚲

With confetti flying and smiles everywhere, this lucky kid became the recipient of the 1,000th bike at Build-a-Bike! A moment we’ll never forget. What started 10 years ago has grown into something bigger than we ever imagined, and moments like this are exactly why we do it.

Huge thank you to Malik for capturing this fantastic shot and freezing such a special moment in time! 📸

05/14/2026

A glimpse into Build-a-Bike day!

05/14/2026

Yesterday we gave away the 1,000th bike at Build-a-Bike… and the smiles made it even more special. 🚲💙

Hundreds of bikes, volunteers and smiling faces came together in Belvidere on Saturday as a community tradition celebrated a major milestone.

05/14/2026

What an incredible day! Stay tuned for TONS of pictures and videos coming soon!

More than 100 Belvidere children are riding into summer with brand-...

05/13/2026

Twas Build-a-Bike Eve, and all through the store,
Rows and rows of new bikes stretched out on the floor.
The helmets were stacked and the banners hung right,
As excitement kept building for tomorrow’s big night.

Ten years of this magic, this joy, and this ride,
With a community standing so proudly beside.
And tomorrow by evening, the smiles will be bright,
After another unforgettable Build-a-Bike night. 🚲