Dispatch From Upper Falls - Buddies on Bikes

Dunn Gaherin's is at it again.

Seana Gaherin from Dunn Gaherin's Restaurant in Upper Falls was the mastermind behind last month's Feast of The Falls extravaganza.  Seana first envisioned The Feast of the Falls as a way for the neighborhood businesses to give back to the Upper Falls community.  As it evolved though, it turned into something much greater than that. Instead it became the whole community coming together for a celebration - 250 neighbors breaking bread together at a single very long table.  Between the army of neighborhood volunteers, all the elected officials and business folks serving as waiters and waitresses, The Upper Falls CDC underwriting the cost, the Tzu Chi foundation providing a complete alternative five course vegetarian menu, and the thousands of dollars donated by guests for neighborhood projects - it became a party by the neighborhood, for the neighborhood.

That same spirit is now spreading to Dunn Gaherin's latest venture - Dunn Gaherin's new bicycle delivery service.  Last spring Dunn Gaherin's ordered a custom built, way cool, retro-looking delivery bicycle, emblazoned with their "Got Meatloaf" slogan.  The plan was to deliver lunches and dinners from Dunn Gaherins to the surrounding area via delivery bicycle.  The plan was delayed a bit while they worked through various regulatory hurdles but now they're up and running with lunch time deliveries. 

It works like this: Place your order (617-527-6271)  by 11:30AM and it will go out on the noon bike delivery.  Order by 12:30 and it will go on the 1PM run.  They deliver anywhere within a three mile radius of Dunn Gaherins.  Give it a try, they're now ready for your lunch order.

Rather than just expanding the same delivery program into the dinner hours though, Seana's now got another ambitious community project  in mind - "Buddy's on Bikes".  It will operate as sort of a cross between Meals on Wheels and a community volunteer corp.   If anyone in the area needs a bit of a hand they'll be able to call Buddies on Bikes.  If you're a recuperating from an illness, or you're an elderly shut-in, or anyone else that can't get out and about to take care of business, you'll be able to call Buddies on Bikes.  Most simply, the Buddies on Bikes will deliver a free dinner from Dunn Gaherins restaurant to your home.  Aside from food delivery, the Buddies will also take care of other neighborhood errands for  the housebound.  They'll pick up your prescription at CVS, or drop something at the post office or any other local errand that needs doing.

If you know someone who could use this service, just call Dunn Gaherins Restaurant  (617-527-6271) and ask for the manager on duty.  They'll take the order and explain how the program works.  To begin with, Buddies on Bikes is an experiment and there's sure to be some trial and error and fine tuning to make the program run smoothly.  At least to start, Dunn Gaherin's will completely staff the service.  If it works out and there's sufficient demand Seana's planning on ordering two more Got Meatloaf bicycles and recruiting neighborhood volunteers to help with the service.  Like the Feast of  The Falls, it can evolve from a business helping the neighborhood into the whole neighborhood helping each other.   If you might like to volunteer to be an occasional or regular Buddy's on Bikes delivery person, give Dunn Gaherins a call and ask for the manager on duty.  I already put my name on the list and am chomping at the bit to start my new part time career as a volunteer bicycle delivery guy.

Seana has no idea whether Dunn Gaherins lunchtime bicycle delivery service will be profitable or make strict business sense.  For her, that's not what it's about.  It's more about the spirit of the neighborhood.  She's loves the idea of people smiling and waving as the Dunn Gaherin's bicycle rides by.  She loves the idea of extending the warmth and friendliness of her restaurant out onto the streets of Upper Falls.  Once she realized that's what  the bicycle delivery service is all about, then the idea of Buddies on Bikes, of using the bikes for pure community service, just seemed perfect.