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Newsletter

December, 2010

Seventy-five high school students from 29 highs schools and religious

institutions attended Bridges Outreach’s second Teens Tackle Homelessness

conference on Saturday, October 23, 2010. The conference was planned by a

high school steering committee representing students from several area high

schools. Oak Knoll School of the Holy

Child hosted the conference.

Jennifer Velez, Commissioner of

the New Jersey Department of Human

Services was the keynote speaker. Ms.

Velez’ extensive experience in the fields

of health and human services combined

with her compassion for the people she

serves made her an inspirational

presenter for the conference. Her

message urged audience members to be

non-judgmental and to resist

stereotyping people was well received.

In addition to the keynote

speaker, the conference offered three

workshops:”Homeless Teens” presented

by Mr. Bilal Muhammad, Homeless Unit Liaison with the Newark Public Schools;

Suburban Homeless addressed by Julia Orlando, Director of the Bergen County

Housing, Health and Human Services Center in Hackensack; and “Prevention and

Solutions” was offered by Jose Ortiz, Deputy Director for Essex-Newark Legal

Services. Students said they learned, “homelessness is close to home” and “just

how hard it is to be in foster care.” Many came away feeling more inclined to help

others in need and to not to judge people they see sleeping on the streets.

Roundtable discussions over dinner gave the teens a chance to meet and

have a conversation with people who have personally experienced homelessness.

One teen commented, “It opened my eyes to the different ways someone can find

themselves homeless and how it can happen to anyone.”

Teens Tackle Homelessness was sponsored by the Verizon Foundation,

Lena Willis Mission Fund, and Hilltop Community Bank and hosted by Oak Knoll

School of the Holy Child.

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

Board Member Leonard Prentice and Bilal

Muhammad with Commissioner Jennifer Velez

Teens Tackle Homelessness

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Dear Friends:

This new monthly on-line newsletter replaces

“The Bridge,” a printed newsletter that appeared in

your mailboxes twice a year. It is our way of going

“green” and getting news to you on a timelier basis.

We will highlight volunteers in action and programs

and events to keep you more informed and to

provide volunteer opportunities to you and your

families.

You may be thinking that you have already

received on-line newsletters from Bridges. In fact,

what you have been receiving are calls for

immediate help and/or important time sensitive

news. I will continue to send those “yellow flashes”

from time to time.

As always, we are grateful for your support.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and forward

this e-mail to friends.

Best wishes for the holiday season.

Lois Bhatt, Executive Director

Expansion in Newark

Bridges is working with interfaith ministers

in Newark to form new partnerships to expand the

number of Run sites in Newark. Currently, we

partner with three ministries in Newark: The Body

of Christ Ministry; First Hopewell Baptist Church;

and Lovicks Holiness Church in addition to the

Penn Station stop and monthly activities at the

Newark Emergency Residency Program, a shelter

at the Newark YMCA.

When new Run sites are established, we will

be looking for new volunteer groups to do these

Saturday Runs.

Friday Volunteer Opportunity

We are looking for individuals who are

interested in a meaningful and regular volunteer

opportunity. Bridges will form 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. Volunteers would go out

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.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

Save the date: Monday, January 17, 2011,

Bridges will be participating in Summit’s 13th

annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service.

Bridges will be offering volunteer opportunities for

all ages. Watch for more information.

In preparation for the MLK Day of Service,

we need volunteers to cut fleece for blankets that

we will be making to give to shelters. Bring a pair

of cutting sheers!

Point in Time Count

HUD’s mandated Point in Time Count (PITC) is a

one-day count of the number of individuals living

on the streets, in emergency shelters and

transitional units. The PITC is important. It is the

basis for services, funding and housing for

homeless in Newark and Essex county. Volunteers

are needed for any time during the 24 hours of

January 27, 2011.

Service Fair

Students: represent Bridges at a service fair on

Sunday, January 30, 2011. For more details and to register for volunteer activities, contact Craig Prince, Volunteer

Coordinator at volunteerbridges@gmail.com.

Volunteer Opportunities

Events

2010 Annual Appeal in Progress

Bridges receives its funding from foundation grants,

a biennial fundraiser, unsolicited donations and one

annual appeal. The 2010 annual appeal is currently

underway. Our goal for this appeal is $65,000; we

are half-way there! To our donors, thank you.

Donations may be made on line at

www.bridgesoutreach.org.

1st Annual Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day

Mayor Cory A. Booker and the Newark Municipal

Council along with the Mayor’s Commission on the

Homeless, invite you to the 1st Annual Homeless

Persons’ Memorial Day. The event will recognize

homeless people who have died from violence, often

hate crimes, exposure to the elements, and lack of

heath care. The event will take place on the steps of

Newark City Hall on Broad Street in Newark on De-

cember 21, 2010, the longest night of the year, from

noon to 4 p.m.

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

lois@bridgesoutreach.org.

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Holiday Gifts for Homeless Friends

Holidays Each year, Bridges delivers

hundreds of holiday gift to homeless living on the

streets or in shelters in New York City, Newark and

Irvington, NJ. Winter comes early for these friends

and many of the holiday gifts we typically give at

the end of December would be appreciated earlier

in the season. This year, Bridges will deliver one

gift each week for four weeks and culminate the

season with a hot meal and gift bag on December

24th. Donations are now being accepted for

“hoodie” sweatshirts (size L to XXXL) men’s coats

(parka style, sizes L to XXXL), kids toys ($15 range,

no batteries), and men’s blue jeans (size 34 & up).

We are grateful to the Verona Service

League for sponsoring two of the holiday Runs and

providing funds for 300 pairs of boots and 300

“hoodies.”

Order Holiday Gift Cards NOW!

A gift card from Bridges indicates that a

donation has been made to honor a teacher or

someone special on your holiday list. They also

make great gift tags and table cards or can slip into

your holiday cards. To order and to view a sample:

www.bridgesoutreach.org. Order by December 17th

for holiday delivery.

Holiday Hours

Bridges will make Friday Runs into New York

City on December 24th and December 31st. We are

grateful to Jean Trees and friends and the Unitarian

Church of Summit who have volunteered to go out

on these holiday Runs. Although the Runs will

continue, the offices will be closed from Thursday,

December 23rd to Monday, January 3rd. Please do

not deliver lunches or clothing during this time.

Hartshorn Elementary School -- 10 Years of ThanksGIVING

For ten years, Hartshorn Elementary School

in Short Hills has made turkey lunches, purchased

and wrapped hats & gloves and toiletry kits. Their

donations are delivered directly to a shelter in

Newark. We thank Principal Ron Castaldo, the

parent volunteers, and students for all their

support. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is

always a very special day at Hartshorn.

Thanksgiving December Holidays

Hartshorn Principal Ron Castaldo with Jordy

Hartshorn students after filling the Bridges’ truck

Volunteers Jason and Agusta sort 300 pairs of boots

donated by the Verona Service League.

Happy Holidays!

“Thanks for Giving Baskets”

For several years, Bridges has been the

bridge between the Junior League of Summit and

the First Congregational Christian United Church of

Christ in Irvington. This year, the JLS provided 77

baskets filled with food for Thanksgiving and

beyond. Bridges picked up the baskets and

delivered them directly to the First Congregational

Christian United Church of Christ church in

Irvington where they were paired up with 77

turkeys and joyfully distributed by Pastor Dolores

Watson.

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Volunteers in Action

From top: Pingry students get ready for a Bridges’ Run to NYC.

Patrick Rooney raised $250 at his lemonade stand this summer. He

spent his hard earned cash on over 65 breakfast bags, 120 new pairs of

socks and 45 new white T-Shirts for Bridges.

Girls on the Run Summit #2 with baked goods they donated to Bridges.

Oak Knoll students sort clothing on their day of service.

Pack 260 Brayton School making lunches for Bridges.

Thanks to ALL our volunteers.