July 1, 2015 – Hikers, runners, bicyclists, birders, equestrian riders and more can now show support for their favorite local trails while grabbing a coffee or bite to eat thanks to an ongoing nonprofit program at Summer Thyme’s Bakery and Deli.
Beginning today and continuing through the month of August, patrons of Summer Thyme’s can donate to Bear Yuba Land Trust’s trails fund. BYLT is one of three non-profit groups featured during July and August, along with Nevada City Arts Council and Interfaith Food Ministry.
Summer Thyme’s customers can look for a BYLT box above the customer station. For every $5 spent, customers will receive a wooden nickel to contribute to the nonprofit box of their wish. At the end of the two month period, Summer Thyme’s will donate to BYLT’s trails campaign based on the number of wooden nickels in the box.
BYLT launched its trails campaign on May 30, during Nevada County Celebration of Trails 2015, a well-attended event that featured trail outings and a trails day festival. BYLT hopes to reach a goal of $40,000 in donations during the trails campaign. A generous local donor has stepped forward, offering to match this goal, bringing the total to $80,000.
With community donations, BYLT’s trails team will continue to maintain 19 local trails while concentrate trail building efforts on: an extension of the Yuba Rim Trail system at Rice’s Crossing, creating a link from Black Swan Trail near Smartsville with miles of new Yuba River access trails, prepare for an eight mile high country multi-use trail on PG&E lands along the headwaters of the Bear River.
BYLT has built and maintains more than 30 miles of local trails with more on the drawing board. Trails benefit the community in a number of ways such as: provide a place for healthy, outdoor exercise; increase property values; attract visitors to the area thus giving a boost to the economy; provide a meeting place for connecting with friends, neighbors and families; create safe pedestrian-friendly routes to schools and jobs, in turn reducing vehicle emissions.
In addition to building and maintaining miles and miles of local trails, BYLT is a 25 year community-supported nonprofit organization dedicated to saving forests, watersheds and farms for the people and wildlife who live here while providing diverse nature education programming for the whole family.