Bridging At A Glance

Program Services 2004 - 2009

As of December 31, 2009: Over 52,225 families served since 1987.

	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Families Served	2,978	3,540	3,843	5,339	5,557	5,146
Total Individuals	10,997	12,332	13,187	16,611	17,180	15,173
Children 17 and under	5,214	5,666	6,736	8,403	8,497	7,371
Percent of Children	47%	46%	51%	51%	49%	48.5%
Total Number Beds	4,416	6,289	7,314	9,284	10,019	8,596
Beds per Household	1.48	1.77	1.90	1.74	1.80	1.67
Bridging Deliveries	0	0	0	343	2,473	2,759
Distribution Value	$6,144,627	$7,541,976	$8,725,631	$12,425,250	$10,905,130	$10,403,777
Value per family	$2,063	$2,130	$2,270	$2,327	$1,962	$2,022
Number of Items Distributed	55,964	74,274	82,207	112,092	118,247	109,907
Volunteer Hours Donated	51,569	60,067	71,291	92,101	90,936	88,170
In-kind Value Volunteer Services	$881,821	$1,054,175	$1,286,090	$1,728,736	$1,774,161	$1,785,442

Bridging Stories

A Mother's Experience at Bridging

Danita lived in an abusive situation for 9 years before she fled with her 6 children   One day she just knew it was time to pack their clothes and leave.  She could not even take her children’s toys.  Her kids did not understand, they wanted their stuff, they wanted to go home to what was theirs.  Danita had just turned 33. She was distraught and she felt old.

She and the children moved to a shelter where she worked very hard to find an apartment, childcare and to get herself enrolled in school.  Danita moved out of the shelter two nights before her appointment at Bridging.   One of those nights Danita slept alone on the floor while the children stayed elsewhere.  The second night they all slept on the floor huddled together with a few blankets to keep them warm.  

   

Having secured an apartment, Danita determined a budget. She knew there was no money for furnishings.  Bridging helped ease the financial strain. 

“You can not imagine what it’s like to figure out all your expenses then realize you only have so much money and that you have required expenses due at the beginning of the month.”

Danita was amazed at the things she got from Bridging. She was particularly struck by items like blankets and sheets and BIG FLUFFY pillows. The shelter had given her a few dishes; at Bridging she got an 8 piece pink flowered set.  The pullout sofa she chose makes Friday night family time. Danita stops at the library for a DVD then pulls out the sleeper sofa bed where the family crowds together to enjoy a movie. 

“I remember the feeling. I never could have imagined what I was about to go through. A BLESSING! First we picked out beds, I got a king size and it is so soft. Every child got a bed. I received two couches, a dining room table, 7 chairs, two dressers, 2 recliner chairs, a shelf and a mirror.”

Her kids like the beds best, when they arrived they yelled “Mommy that’s MY bed!!!???”  Also important to her children is the desk where they can do their homework rather than sitting on the floor or the bed.

Everything really belongs to them; not like in the shelter where nothing was theirs.  It took a couple of weeks for that to sink in. Receiving services from Bridging gave Danita hope for a future, allowing her to focus on school and to work on her mental health. 

The Bridging experience made her feel human and whole.  It is the small things like getting their clothes from the closet rather than from the pile that was their bed.

“Words are not there to say what this means... beds to sleep on, a couch with my kids sitting next to me.  It’s the little bitty things that matter.”  Danita recommends, “Rather than throwing things away, make a world of difference by giving to those who don’t have.  Your things can change someone’s life as they did mine.”

As told by Danita

“The Bridging program has been a valuable resource for our clients who must establish, or re-establish their home. Bridging has always come through for us at the Minneapolis Urban League when we needed help getting furnishings for our clients. Working with the Bridging Inc. program has truly been a rewarding experience over the years. I wish the workers of Bridging could see the smiles of gratitude and of relief on our clients’ faces when they finally have a bed on which to sleep, or a home filled with furniture. Thank you for all that you do.”

Jerry Hooten of the Minneapolis Urban League’s Housing Stability Program.       

I wanted to thank your agency for helping my client.  Her daughter went into the hospital with viral meningitis two days before our appointment, and because of you and your amazing volunteers, her daughter was able to come home and recuperate in a bed, not on the floor.  Your energetic, friendly volunteers put a smile on the mom’s face for the first time in days, and the family is so proud of their home now.  Thanks so much for what you do!

Liz Franklin, Washburn Center For Children

We have referred many of our program participants to Bridging over the last five years. Again and again, I hear about the quality of the furnishings, and the helpful volunteers and staff.  As a referring agency representative, I appreciate the professionalism and efficiency that the staff demonstrates.  This community is blessed to have Bridging as a means to help people in need. 

Deb Tretsven, Goodwill Easter Seals