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Bridges Outreach February 2011 Newsletter
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Newsletter February 2011
Bridges will collect non-perishable food, detergents, cleaning supplies and paper products
To benefit
St. Teresa’s Food Pantry in Summit
and
The Church Women United Food Pantry in Irvington
Donations may be brought to Bridges on
Tuesdays: February 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd
between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
and put directly into the Bridges yellow truck
(please do not bring food into the building)
Contact Craig Prince, Volunteer Coordinator, at [email protected], or 908-273-0176
to schedule pick-up of a large donation in the Summit area.
Bridges does not have the capacity to store food. All collections will be immediately distributed to the food pantries. Please do not leave food at Bridges with the exception of depositing it in our yellow truck on Tuesdays.
Bridges Board of Trustees
2010-2011 Janice Beckmen, Co-chair
Kathryn Radutzky, Co-chair Bob Rowan, Treasurer
Beth Tulloch, Secretary
Alison V. Bryant John Crosby Laura Fromm
Amy Cairns Harrison Diane Hoey Frank Keller Jon Maslin
Rabbi Ellie Miller Leonard Prentice Victoria Smith Ginger Stearns
Jean Trees William “Prez” Tyus
John Vigilante Dimitri Vorona Geoff Worden
Emeritus Trustees Judy Newhouse
Sarah Rosen Susan Tully
Ginger Worden
Honorary Trustee Howard Tate
February Food Drive
PLEASE, NO CLOTHING DONATIONS UNTIL MARCH 1ST. This will give us an opportunity to distribute all donated winter clothing and
prepare for spring. Thank you for your generous donations. Thank you for your
cooperation.
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Over 120 Volunteer at Bridges on MLK Day of Service
Bridges had over 120 volunteers of all ages helping
in various ways on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of
Service. On the ground floor, Ruth O’Brien and Teri
Lusty (both Bridges volunteers) coordinated the ty-
ing of fleece to make quilts for middle school stu-
dents. They made 16 quilts that will go to a shelter
so that when a new child arrives they will be given a
quilt. A special thanks to Ruth for coordinating this
project. That required a lot of prep work and
time. Also on the first floor, elementary school chil-
dren wrapped toys and books that will be given to
the shelter for birthday gifts.
Upstairs, younger students made 300 lunches. The
lunches along with others delivered and collected
from other groups went out with breakfast bags to
Newark shelters. The shelters were grate-
ful. Children at the shelter usually get breakfast and lunch at school, but when school is closed, they
miss those meals. Downstairs in our donation room, high school students and adults sorted clothing,
made toiletry kits, and helped in many ways to benefit our operations.
About 30 high school students and adults viewed the prison re-entry film, No Where to Go, followed by
a discussion with the director of the film, Lori H. Ersolmaz of Voices of Hope Productions. If you missed
the film and would like to schedule a viewing at your organization, contact Lori
Thanks to all volunteers, the Bridges Board of Trustees and staff and Shaping Summit Together for work-
Run Volunteer Training Video
The Bridges training video for Run volunteers is
now available on our website
(www.bridgesoutreach.org) and on YouTube:
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%
2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DZfM-
2XuHa1A&h=bdfc3
The film is a great way to get a good look at a
Bridges Run and the role of the volunteer group
leader for the Run as well as the individual role on a
Run. A training manual accompanies the video on
our website. It is a “must see” for all volunteers.
Donate Today!
Bridges receives its funding from foundation
grants, a biennial fundraiser, unsolicited donations
and one annual appeal. To our donors, thank you.
Donations may be made on line at
www.bridgesoutreach.org.
Anyone out there a member of
Kiwanis? If so, we need your help!
New Procedures for Signing-up for Runs
The new Run schedule for June 1, 2011, through
May 31, 2012, will be posted in mid-March as
usual. However, before scheduling a Run, we
ask that you first contact Craig Prince,
Volunteer Coordinator, who will lead you
through the new procedures and help you to
determine which Run is best for your group
and assign a code that will allow you to sign-
up on the website. Craig can be reached at 908-
273-0176 or at [email protected].
Contact Craig between February 7th and 26th
so that you will be ready to sign-up for Runs when
they are posted in March 1st.
Teri Lusty and Ruth O’Brien with two of the finished quilts.
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Friday Volunteer Opportunity
We are looking for individuals who are
interested in a meaningful and regular volunteer
opportunity. Bridges is forming a “core” group of
volunteers, perhaps 20 to 25, who would rotate one
week a month and go out on the Friday night Run
to New York City once every 4 or 5 weeks.
Your volunteer role will be social and
interactive. You will not be asked to bring lunches
or other items. We are asking you for your time,
friendship, and compassion.
Sorting Donations
We receive literally tons of donations every year.
All items need to sorted. Volunteers may join in the
sorting any Tuesday between 9 and 3 and/or
Fridays between 9 and 6. Home from college, stop
by! Organize a Food Drive
See details on page 1 of this newsletter. For more details and to register for volunteer activities, contact Craig Prince, Volunteer
Coordinator at [email protected].
High School Students The first meeting of the student high school
steering committee for Teens Tackle
Homelessness will be on Monday, February 7th,
from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Bridges, 120 Morris Avenue,
Summit. All high school students are welcome to
become part of this steering committee. Teen
Tackle Homelessness is a conference on
homelessness for high school students. This year,
we plan to make the conference more interactive.
Save the Date: Bridges Brown Bag Bash – May 14, 2011 Planning has begun for biennial fundraising event,
the Bridges Brown Bag Bash to be held on May 14,
2011, at the Morris Museum in Morristown. Catering
by David Ellis Caterers. Entertainment? You just
never know at a Bridges Brown Bag Bash. To join
the planning committee, contact
Volunteer Opportunities
Events and Announcements
On Friday night, January 21st, the first group of
"core" volunteers, Amy, Joan, and Mayra, went out
on the Run. It was a bitterly cold night, yet they
were enthusiastic and ready to go. As Chip, one of
the Run Coordinators reported, they "hit the
ground running" and added a whole new
dimension to the Runs.
Here are some remarks from Joan who wanted to
share her experience.
I HAD A GREAT TIME!!!!! It was nice to be able to
talk one-on-one to our friends. The main topic of
conversation at Battery Park seemed to be
football. I did meet Theodore and Brenda whose
story was very sad. They had a fire and lost their 6
year old daughter in that fire. I was able to provide
them with a place to go seek help (thanks, Chip for
knowing where to point them to) for a metro card
so that he could get back to work.
.
The hugs and kisses I received were the best ever!
I think our friends really appreciated the attention
before the truck got there. More than one person
asked if I was going to be there next week.
The Brooklyn Bridge topic of conversations didn’t
revolve around football. I think they were varied.
We had a performance by one special young
mother…she was able to moo like a cow! One man
was very appreciative of a sleeping bag that he
received from Bridges. I have been thinking of
him all weekend – hoping that it was warm enough
in these sub-zero temperatures.
And then there were the volunteers from Kent
Place School and Amy, Chip, Dan, and Mayra, it
was great to get to know them as well.
I really loved getting to know all these people. It is
a blessing to be a part of this. I can’t wait to go
again.
Joan O.
See volunteer opportunities for more information.
First Core Volunteers
Welcomed
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Volunteers in Action
MLK Day—Fifth graders from Girls Scout Troop 813 from Washington School in Summit.
Youth group from Stanley Congregational Church in Chatham are ready for the Friday, January 28th Run to NYC
MLK Day—A group of young volunteers work together to make bagged lunches.
Irvington Rotary on a January Run to the Irvington Neighborhood Improvement Corporation organized by Alison Bryant, Irvington Rotarian and member of the Bridges Board of Trustees. Also in the photo, Lois Bhatt (Executive Director) and Kathryn Radutzky (Board Co-Chair).
Run Coordinator, Dan RosenHanst, is ready to introduce Bar and Bas Mitzvah students to Bridges service projects at
