#children

Dec 19, 2012
1 min

Campaign Reaches $41,000–and Matching Funds Available!

Thank you, thank you, and thank you again. If you have been a supporter to Bridges of Hope this year, you made a difference in the life of a family like Steven and Laura’s. We cannot thank you enough for your generosity. As the year (and our Fall Campaign) draws to a close, we are excited to announce a brand-new development: the Thrivent Financial Foundation will match every new donation, up to $5,000! We are thrilled to share this great new matching funds opportunity with yo

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The All-Time Top Eleven Quotes from our Clients

Bridges of Hope

Dec 5, 2012
2 min

The All-Time Top Eleven Quotes from our Clients

Since our founding, Bridges of Hope has built-in a specific follow-up component to our services. We have two main reasons for doing this. First, we want to make sure that the resources, programs and ideas we suggested actually helped someone resolve their crisis–because that’s why we exist! Second, and equally as important, we want to know whenever those resources, programs, and ideas didn’t work for someone–so we can do a better job matching a person’s unique situation to th

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Bridges of Hope

Nov 9, 2012
2 min

Something to be Thankful For

It’s fun to be able to do something out of the ordinary from my more typical daily tasks, and it’s rewarding to be able to see community members from area churches, businesses, service clubs, and individual families come together to help families who would likely not be able to afford a Thanksgiving meal otherwise. Every year the program has grown, and this year we are expecting to serve approximately 275 families! We rely on the amazing generosity of our sponsors to make thi

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Bridges of Hope

Nov 1, 2012
2 min

Campaign Reaches $12,000 Mark!

You might have noticed that we have fall fundraising goal: to raise $60,000 to support our work with Lakes Area families like Steven and Laura’s. You helped us reach this same goal last year and we pray that you’ll help again this year. Just 19 days into this year’s campaign, this generous community has already donated over $12,000! This year has brought many amazing opportunities to Bridges of Hope, and we’ve faced a few challenges, too. One of our major challenges is the ex

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Bridges of Hope

Oct 14, 2012
2 min

Steven and Laura’s Moment

Steven and Laura are parents of two teenagers. When Laura contacted Bridges of Hope, the couple was in the process of adopting their young niece and nephews. To say that Jack, Chloe and Dylan had experienced a difficult childhood would be to put it delicately. Their loving aunt and uncle wanted to provide a safe and loving environment for these sweet children, and this meant their family of four was becoming a family of seven. Steven and Laura’s three-bedroom apartment did no

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Bridges of Hope

Jul 18, 2012
2 min

Shelly’s Moment

Family Support Services is a unique program that can be tailored to fit the goals of each family. Staff meet one-one-one with parents in their home and set goals based on each family’s individual strengths and challenges over the course of about three to six months. The goals often include support and resources for things like transportation, catching up on bills and strengthening budgeting skills, establishing childcare, or learning new parenting techniques. Our role is to a

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Bridges of Hope

May 22, 2012
2 min

Finding Creative Solutions to Help

At Bridges of Hope, we deal with a wide variety of situations, and we try to find not only appropriate but also creative solutions for families who sometimes are facing some unique situations. One example of the ways we are sometimes able to be creative is Sandy’s story: Sandy is a mother of two boys: Nathan (age 7) and Kyle (age 4). Sandy was struggling to find productive activities and healthy outlets for the boys who both have serious mental health diagnoses. Sandy had be

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Bridges of Hope

Apr 6, 2012
4 min

Lily and Mae’s Moment

The girls today, ages 5 and almost 3. Photo by Neree Jackson | StudioYou Lily and Mae weren’t living a fairytale. Jason and Kristy are loving and dedicated parents to Lily and Mae. Lately, however, they had been finding it more and more difficult to provide the kind of stability in life they so desperately wanted for their girls–because neither of them had experienced it themselves while growing up. Jason grew up in a home with two older brothers and a single mother who work

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Bridges of Hope

Jan 2, 2012
3 min

Music to My Ears

For many, the Holidays are a wonderful time of year filled with family, fun, laughter, giving (and eating!). One of my favorite things about the Holidays is the Christmas music. I am an avid collector of Christmas albums, and coming from a musical family means that singing in church and playing instruments is a part of the Holidays that always brings me joy. As the season winds down, I usually feel a slight pang as Christmas music is no longer being played in church or on the

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Bridges of Hope

Dec 20, 2011
2 min

We Did It…Because of YOU

This has been an incredible year at Bridges of Hope, where we have been blessed with a multitude of gifts as well as a handful of challenges. We are thankful for both, as we are reminded daily to both be gracious and thankful to Him during good times, and persevere and turn to Him during the difficult times. It reminds us that no matter how well we may plan and prepare, life happens anyway–both in our personal lives and in the lives of the clients we are so privileged to serv

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Bridges of Hope

Dec 19, 2011
1 min

Campaign Nears the $60,000 Mark

On Saturday, December 10, Bridges of Hope’s Fall Campaign reached the $50,000 mark, leaving just $10,000 to raise before year-end…which means that on the following Thursday (December 15), Nor-Son was able to add the back rail of our bridge… …and that means the bridge is also nearly complete! We continue to be in a state of humbled amazement of YOUR continued, generous support of our work with families. ————————————————– Thank you for giving. Here’s how you can still get invol

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Bridges of Hope

Dec 6, 2011
2 min

Not Having to Choose Between Gifts or Rent

Christmas can be a difficult time of year for some of the families working with Bridges of Hope. Often, families have to make tough financial choices, which might mean choosing between giving their children Christmas gifts or providing for their everyday needs. Naturally we want to support families who are making the tough decisions to keep paying for things like their monthly housing and heating costs…even when it means sacrificing on Christmas gifts for their family. That’s

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Bridges of Hope

Nov 1, 2011
2 min

Noah’s Moment

Photo by Neree Jackson | Studio You A contribution of $150 supports our work with one family in need. Since 2002, the support from our community has enabled us to change the lives of thousands of families in the Lakes Area–and for that, we thank you. Tim and Sara are young parents. Last spring their son Noah was born prematurely. Tim was employed and Sara had been staying home to care for Noah. The couple was managing okay, even though the medical bills had been adding up sin

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Bridges of Hope

Oct 27, 2011
4 min

It’s a Partnership

There are many families right now facing very difficult times. So many, in fact, that to be frank, I realize many of you have probably grown a little tired of hearing about the tough stuff going on in the lives of men, women and children in our community. I understand. It can wear on us, too. But it got me thinking… What does it really mean to live in poverty in the Brainerd Lakes Area? Well, technically speaking, for a family of four, you are considered “living in poverty” i

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Bridges of Hope

Jul 27, 2011
2 min

Michael and Susan’s Moment

Photo by Neree Jackson | Studio You Susan contacted Bridges of Hope asking for help with a Security System for her home. Susan and her husband Michael have two grown children and recently adopted their two grandchildren, Olivia and Madison, ages 3 and 1. Olivia, at age 3, had already been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, a behavioral disorder, and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome–a trio of hefty diagnoses for such a little girl. Susan explained that Olivia has trouble comprehending

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Bridges of Hope

Apr 14, 2011
2 min

Kendra’s Moment

Kendra was out of options. She had moved into an apartment in the Lakes Area after leaving her home community–and having to sever all her ties to friends and family–due to a domestic violence situation. She had fled shortly after learning she was pregnant with her third child and had since found a part-time job, established regular childcare, joined a parenting support group, and was on her way to mapping out a new life. But finding new friendships in a new community was happ

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Bridges of Hope

Sep 28, 2010
2 min

It’s all about the kids…

Jonathon, Sam and Emily along with their parents Charlotte and Rob were homeless—or practically homeless. This family of five had just moved to our area and were living in a burned-out trailer with no heat. It was winter. Charlotte and Rob and their three beautiful children had taken to huddling together on the living room floor in order to stay warm at night. That’s when they found Bridges of Hope. It occurred to me today, that all too often, we beg The story continues...A F

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Bridges of Hope

Sep 16, 2010
1 min

‘Tis the Season…

Sadly, there are so many families in our area that face tough times, especially during the holidays. I am happy to announce that Bridges of Hope will, for the second year in a row, act as the coordinating agency for the Thanksgiving Basket and Christmas Gift program to support families like Nicole and Tom. We are proud to partner with key organizations such as Crow Wing County Social Services, New Pathways, Salem WEST and Salvation Army as well as local food shelves, churche

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Bridges of Hope

Sep 8, 2010
1 min

Nicole and Tom’s Moment

Thankfully, she had been referred to Bridges of Hope by a local food shelf, who knew that Bridges is the coordinator for our community’s unique Thanksgiving Baskets program. Churches, businesses and individuals sign up to sponsor a family’s meal for Thanksgiving, and families in need sign up to receive a Basket. Bridges of Hope matches the sponsors with families, sharing how many people are in the family and where they live, and the sponsor goes out to purchase items for a fu

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Bridges of Hope

Sep 2, 2010
1 min

Wally and Cindy’s Moment

A Family Service Worker at BoH assisted the couple in applying for county assistance and unemployment, so they would be able to care for their grandchildren. They were approved for both, a great relief for Wally. To resolve their mortgage crisis, the BoH staff contacted the president of the local bank where the couple had their mortgage, to work out a payment plan that was a “win” for all parties. Since the only way to make the payments work would be to reduce the total amoun

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