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Newsletter Winter 2011

Bridges is pleased to announce the forming of a Coalition of Services in Newark.

Throughout the summer and fall, Bridges worked diligently to bring partners from

various agencies in Newark and Essex County together to form this Coalition. On

Monday, December 12, 2011, Bridges launched the first Coalition of Services

outreach to 170 individuals in need of services and food in St. John’s parking lot.

Services included: high blood pressure and diabetes screening, flu vaccines, HIV

testing and counseling, a doctor and nurse to provide medical exams and referral

for treatment, and referrals to social and mental health services. As always,

Bridges provided food, toiletries, and seasonal

necessities.

During our regular weekly outreach in Newark, it

became clear that although services are available to

the homeless we met, those services are scattered

throughout Essex County. They are often difficult to

access and unfamiliar to the homeless. Knowing

where supportive services are located and obtaining

the proper documentation to apply for assistance

can be daunting and deter many homeless from

pursuing services. Not having a phone or access to

public transportation to travel to the different

agencies throughout the county presents an

additional obstacle for those struggling to obtain assistance. The Coalition of

Services will work to eliminate these obstacles by providing comprehensive and

clear information about available resources and transportation to them when

appropriate.

Bridges is grateful to the support of our many partners in this Coalition

including: Essex-County Legal Services, Mental Health Association of Essex County,

Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Newark Department of Child and Family Well-

Being, Newark Renaissance House, NJCRI, PROCEED, Project Live, PATH Program,

Prudential and Urban Renewal Corp and the

Office of the Mayor Cory A. Booker.

The Coalition of Services outreach is scheduled for the 2nd Monday of each

month from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and will rotate to various neighborhoods in Newark

each month. If you are interested in volunteering with this Coalition, contact us at

www.bridgesoutreach.org.

Bridges Board of Trustees

2011-2012

Janice Beckmen, Co-chair Kathryn Radutzky, Co-chair

Bob Rowan, Treasurer Beth Tulloch, Secretary

Don Blaesser Alison V. Bryant

Coni Frezzo Laura Zinn Fromm

Kelly Fulton Brian Ginsburg

Amy Cairns Harrison Jon Maslin

Rabbi Ellie Miller Bilal Muhammad Leonard Prentice

Victoria Smith William “Prez” Tyus

John Vigilante Dimitri Vorona Geoff Worden

Emeritus Trustees

Judy Newhouse Sarah Rosen Susan Tully

Ginger Worden

Staff Executive Director

Lois Bhatt

Run Coordinators Chip Cliffe

Daniel RosenHanst

Volunteer Coordinator Craig Prince

Data Manager

Lisa Fitzsimons

Bridges Forms Coalition of Services

Prudential volunteers assisting Bridges on the December 12th Coalition of Services.

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74 Teens Attend Conference

Seventy-four students from 31 high schools and religious

institutions attended the 3rd annual Teens Tackle Homelessness on

Saturday, November 12th, at Kent Place School in Summit,

organized by Bridges Outreach. This conference on homelessness

was specifically for high school students.

The conference, the only one of its kind, was created by

Bridges to further educate our many teen volunteers and other

interested high school students about causes and issues related to

homelessness. Pastor Michael Bethume of Covenant House in

Newark was the keynote speaker. The workshops sessions of the

“Just Neighbors” program designed by Family Promise of Summit,

NJ, provided an interactive learning experience with the

participant putting themselves in the place of someone

experiencing homelessness and making difficult choices. Students

also had an opportunity to engage in round table discussions with those who have experienced

homelessness. Scott Pelley, anchor and managing editor of CBS Evening News, made a special video

presentation to the audience commending them on their participation in the conference and encouraging

them to continue to make a difference in the life of someone who is struggling.

More than 30 teens from over 15 area high schools were driving force behind this conference.

Students developed the contents of the conference specifically to educate their peers about the causes

and issues of homelessness. This year, the teen committee went beyond organizing this conference and

participated in several Bridges’ Runs; helped to build a Habitat House; mentored children and befriended

teens from a Newark shelter and much more. Many of the teens assumed leadership roles and helped to

further the mission of Bridges to bring the housed and the homeless together in community.

To join the 2012 Teens Tackle Homelessness Steering Committee and get involved with other

teen volunteers opportunities at Bridges, contact lois@bridgesoutreach.net.

For the past 14 years, Bridges has been honored to

participate in Summit’s Martin Luther King, Jr., Day

of Service, organized by Shaping Summit Together.

As in past years, Bridges will create volunteer

opportunities for our volunteers and Summit

residents of all ages. Activities begin at Bridges,

Oakes Center, 120 Morris Avenue, at 10:00 a.m. and

will run through 11:30 a.m., on Monday, January

16th. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an

adult. Typically, 150 people volunteer at Bridges on

this day of service.

Additional information at:

http://www.shapingsummittogether.org/content/

martin-luther-king-jr-day-service

More information about Bridges activities will be

available at www.bridgesoutreach.org after

January 2, 2012.

14th Annual MLK Day of Service

Rachel Edelson, a senior at Oak Knoll School prepares for her workshop session, “Making Ends Meet.”

Helen Frank is

an artist who

started

volunteering

with Bridges

about a year

ago and

decided that

she wanted to

document the

Bridges "Run" through her art. Each of Helen's

many works of art has a story and this one is no

different. "Saturday Lunch," was inspired by a

Saturday Run to Newark as Helen watched four

homeless men sit on a curb and eat a Bridges

lunch. A few of the notable places that Helen's

work can be found are at the Library of Congress

and the New York Public Library. For more

information, visit: www.helenfrank.com.

The etchings are on sale at Bridges for

$150 (unframed). Thanks to Helen's generosity,

100% of the proceeds go directly to Bridges to

purchases necessities for the homeless people

we meet.

Helen Frank Etchings

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The week before Thanksgiving, 75 bags of food

given to Bridges by the Junior League of Summit

were immediately sent to Pastor Dolores Watson

First Congregational Christian United Church of

Christ in Irvington. Pastor Watson paired the bags

with a turkey for 75 families in need in Irvington.

Another Thanksgiving tradition at Bridges is

a visit to Hartshorn Elementary School in Short Hills

where over 600 children busily prepare turkey

lunches, toiletry kits, and wrap hats and gloves for

our homeless friends. Beyond giving thanks for all

they have, the children learn that others are not as

fortunate and take this opportunity to help others.

The holidays started early and continued through

to December 24th at Bridges. We really didn’t

expect winter to strike so early with a Halloween

snow storm. The Friday before the storm, warm

hooded sweatshirts were distributed. Coats, hats,

gloves, thermal underwear and insulated boots

were distributed on subsequent Fridays. By

distributing one item each week with enough of a

supply for everyone, we are able to give more,

give equitably, and give and as needed. Our last

Run before Christmas is about fellowship, a special

meal of homemade chili that we share and boxes

of cookies lovingly made.

Beyond our street Runs, Bridges delivered

over 500 pairs of pajamas and 500 toys and gifts

to children at several shelters in Newark.

We thank all of you who gave gifts to

Bridges for us to pass along to our homeless

friends. Many of you dropped off without even

leaving your names so we could thank you

properly. We are very grateful to each and

everyone of you.

Over 2,000

Holiday Gifts Delivered

Would you like to learn how to include Bridges in your will or planned giving? Contact:

Lois Bhatt, Executive Director 908-273-0176 or lois@bridgesoutreach.net

Thanksgiving

Employees at NuStar Energy donate pajamas to Bridges. Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child, Green Village United Methodist Church and the Pajama Program are yearly

contributors to the pajama drive that benefits children in shelters in Newark and those in need in Summit.

Pingry Students sort over 300 pairs of new thermal boots

donated by the Verona Service League.

Patrons at Nita Ideas in Millburn donate coats to Bridges.

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2nd Monday

Bridges is looking for volunteer groups to make 300

brown bag lunches and to participate in the Coalition

of Services Runs on the 2nd Monday of each month

from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. This is an ideal opportunity for

employees who are looking for volunteer

opportunities during the weekday. Friday Volunteer Opportunity

We are looking for individuals who are

interested in a meaningful and regular volunteer

opportunity. Bridges “core volunteers” participate at

least once a month, sometimes more often, on the

Friday night Run to New York City. The role of these

volunteers are 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. Kids at school? Time on

your hands? Stop by. For more details and to register for volunteer

activities, contact Craig Prince, Volunteer

Coordinator at volunteerbridges@gmail.com.

Volunteers

Students at Oratory Prep loaded the Bridges truck with

holiday gifts and 900 pairs of new socks!

Thanks to everyone at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Rahway who helped make all the homemade blankets or

donated coats.

HOLIDAY HOURS

Bridges will be CLOSED from December 24th to December 29th, 2011

(inclusive).

The office will be open from noon to 6 p.m. on Friday, December 30th, to accept

brown bag lunches for the Bridges Run that evening.

Saturday, December 31st, Run to Newark as scheduled. NO donations, please.

Bridges will reopen and resume normal hours on Tuesday, January 3, 2012.

WISHING YOU A JOYOUS HOLIDAY SEASON

AND PEACE, HEALTH & HAPPINESS IN THE NEW YEAR.

Thank you to all who donated gifts this holiday

season to make our homeless friends a little warmer

and a little brighter.