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Newsletter Summer 2012

On June 5th, more than 50 people gathered at the Claremont Corporate Center

on Springfield Avenue to hear the highlights of this fiscal year, to thank our retiring

board members and to welcome new board members. Every individual present

represented a different aspect of Bridges’ volunteer force from lunch-makers to core

volunteers to teen recipients of the Founder’s award and all the roles in between that

helped Bridges deliver over 100,000 brown bag meals to over 500 people each week

last year. We are abundantly grateful for the support of over 1,500 volunteers who

help us in our outreach every year and many more that support us behind the scenes

making lunches, collecting clothing and toiletries.

The annual meeting was an opportunity to thank our outgoing board co-chairs

Janice Beckmen and Kathryn Radutzky for their leadership over the last two years.

During their tenure, Bridges expanded its outreach in Newark and Irvington to include

more Run locations; the Core volunteer program was initiated; the Coalition of Services

became a reality; and a new five-year plan was established. Both Janice and Kathryn

will remain actively on the board.

Other retiring board members who were also thanked are Amy Cairns, who will

remain active as Core volunteer coordinator; Rabbi Ellie Miller; and John Vigilante.

The new slate of officers was overwhelmingly confirmed and announced at the

annual meeting as follows: Bethany Tulloch, Chair; Donald E. Blaesser, Sr., Vice-Chair;

Bob Rowan, Treasurer; and Victoria Smith, Secretary.

Bridges welcomed new board members to the board. Amanda Parrish Block, a

native of Summit and one of Bridges’ first high school volunteers, has returned to

Summit with her family. She has been a homeless advocate in New York City and

Chicago creating “street sheets,” a printed resource booklet of free and low-cost

services for individuals in need. The Street Sheets, now updated monthly and in

numerous editions, are distributed among hundreds of organizations to thousands of

underserved individuals to this day. Amanda is currently creating Street Sheets for

Newark where this updated resource guide is urgently needed.

Rob Pullen, a past corporate executive, successfully combined his passions for

food and helping others by working at a local program where food safety and cooking

skills were taught to ex-cons and long-term unemployed. Since moving to Summit, Rob

has volunteered with Bridges and has offered to take on the role of kitchen and food

safety.

Bridges Board of Trustees

2012-2013

Board Chair Bethany Tulloch Vice Chair Donald E. Blaesser, Sr. Secretary Victoria Smith Treasurer Bob Rowan Board of Trustees Janice Beckmen Amanda Parrish Block Alison V. Bryant Coni Frezzo Laura Fromm Kelly Fulton Brian Ginsburg Jon Maslin Bilal Muhammad Leonard Prentice Kathryn Radutzky Rob Pullan William Tyus Dimitri Vorona Geoff Worden Honorary Trustees Judy Newhouse Sarah Rosen Susan Tully Ginger Worden Executive Director Lois Bhatt Volunteer Coordinator Craig Prince Run Coordinators Chip Cliffe Dan RosenHanst Run Assistant Will Bradley Data Manager Lisa Fitzsimons

Board of Directors—Thank You and Welcome

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Camp Days

This summer 60 children from the Newark

Emergency Residency Program, a shelter at the

Newark YMCA, will go to a sleep-away camp near

Pennsylvania this summer. The overnight camp

provides an amazing opportunity for children from

a city shelter to live in the great outdoors, hike,

swim, and make lasting friendships. As with all

children that go away to summer camp, the

children from the ERP return with a maturity and a

new vision of the world.

If you have ever sent a child to camp, you know

the list of what they need is long. Help us send the

children from the Y to camp this summer. Help a

child go to camp with all they need by donating:

New flashlights with batteries

New swimming goggles

Bug repellent

Sun screen

Twin sheets (gently used)

Camp donations accepted through July 3rd on

Tuesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Fridays

from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Bridges (Oakes

Center), 120 Morris Ave (entrance on Russell

Place), Summit.

Special Days for Sheltered Children

Once again, this summer through the generous

funding of the Sarah Ward Foundation and The

Thomas and Agnes Carvel Foundation, Bridges will

provide two unique summer opportunities for

children at the Newark Emergency Residency

(ERP) Shelter and high school students from

Bridges’ Teens Tackle Homelessness (TTH)

Committee. The teens will go the Apollo Theater

in Harlem for Amateur Night on June 27th. A night

in this iconic theater should be a unique

Summer is here!

Everyone loves a parade!

Bridges kicked off the unofficial start of summer in the Summit Memorial

Day Parade on Monday, May 28th.

Memorial Day

experience for both the TTH and ERP teens.

Another day is planned at the Natural History

Museum in New York City with a picnic in Central

Park on July 19th with a rain date of July 20th. This

will be an opportunity for the younger children at

the ERP to enjoy a day in the City partnered with a

teen from TTH. We expect they will be awestruck

by the dinosaurs and all that the museum has to

offer.

Last summer’s picnic at the Harmony House, a

shelter in Newark, was so much fun that we can’t

wait to go back. Picnic food, yards games and time

for the children to hang out with teens for TTH

made this a “repeat” event.

Volunteer this Summer

Summer is good time to volunteer with Bridges –

we need the help and lunches and perhaps you

have just a little extra time after a busy winter.

Many of our volunteers are groups from schools and

houses of worship. While they take a well-deserved

vacation, we often find ourselves shorthanded or

short on lunches in the summer. High school

students with a parent or adults are welcomed to

join us.

Just in time for summer, our volunteer sign-up

page on our website just got easier. Check it out at

www.bridgesoutreach.org.

COMING SOON!

CHRISTMAS IN JULY!!!

WATCH FOR DETAILS

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Brown Bag Meals

FOOD SAFETY: Keeping food fresh and safe is important. To help,

follow these simple guidelines: 1) wrap sandwiches in

zip lock bags; 2) do NOT put sandwiches in brown

bags – keep separate; 3) keep refrigerated until

delivery. We will put sandwiches in to our

refrigerators and then into coolers until distribution.

LUNCH BROWN BAG LUNCHES Meat sandwich (see Guidelines for Sandwich

Making above)

Fruit: grapes, clementines, bananas, pears &

other soft fruit or fruit cups with spoons. Note:

apples can be difficult for many with dental issues.

Savory Snack: chips, pretzels

Sweet Snack: cakes, cookies, cereal bars, candy

Drink: juice box or water

Napkin

“SUSTAINABLE” LUNCHES:

Sustainable lunches have a longer shelf life. They

give you the flexibility of making the lunches at your

convenience and delivering them on any regular

donation day. They give us the ability to supplement

fresh lunches when we are in need. They can also be

given along with a fresh lunch and kept for the next

day or another time. Our goal is to collect 2,000

sustainable lunches this year and increase that

number to 10,000 over the next five years.

Pouches of tuna or chicken (such Chicken of the Sea

or Starkist – pouches, unlike cans, do not require

draining). We are working on finding ways to

purchase these items wholesale.

Package of crackers

Fruit cup with spoon

Savory Snack: chips, pretzels

Sweet Snack: cakes, cookies, cereal bars, candy

Drink: juice box or water

Napkin

BREAKFAST BROWN BAG:

In an effort to provide a healthy breakfast, please

refrain from including candy and chips in the

breakfast bags. Please note that instant coffee, tea,

oatmeal or other items that require hot water are

no longer requested. It is too difficult for people

living on the street to find hot water.

Granola bars

Small box of cereal and long-shelf life milk (such as

Parmalet)

Fruit cups with spoons or dried fruit and nuts

Juice box

Clearly mark bags as “BREAKFAST”

GUIDELINES

FOR BROWN BAG MEALS:

Wash hands and use surgical gloves.

Approximately one pound of meat makes six to

eight sandwiches.

Loaves of bread vary in size.

Call a grocery store a day or two ahead to order

sliced meat.

Warehouse stores are a good place to buy fruit,

drinks, and treats.

Use mayonnaise and mustard packets. Do not put

condiments on sandwiches.

Avoid mayonnaise in warm weather.

Many of our friends have dental problems. Note:

apples can be difficult for people with dental

problems.

Fruit cups are a good alternative to fresh fruit -

remember spoons!

Large packages of cookies may be divided and

bagged.

Wrap sandwiches in zip lock bags.

Do NOT put sandwiches in brown bags – keep

separate so that they can remain refrigerated until

delivery.

Keep sandwiches refrigerated until delivery.

NEW!

YOU HAV E MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO DELIVER 100,000

BROWN BAGS MEALS THIS YEAR. THANK YOU!

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Bridges was greatly honored to be acknowledged by

Senator Richard Codey, twice Governor of New

Jersey, at a press conference he held at Penn

Station on Monday, May 14th. Codey, while

announcing new bills that he will propose to the

legislature to aid the homeless, recognized Bridges'

outreach to the homeless and in particular, Bridges'

Coalition of Services.

For more on the press conference, link to the

following articles:

http://njtoday.net/2012/05/01/codey-announces-

plan-to-combat-homelessness-in-new-jersey/

http://www.politickernj.com/56496/codey-

announces-plan-combat-homelessness-new-jersey

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/05/

sen_codey_proposes_housing_pla.html

At Senator Codey's request, Lois Bhatt, Executive

Director spoke on behalf of Bridges in more detail

about the Coalition of Services. Below is an excerpt

of her comments.

“...We recognize that while there are services

available for the homeless, they are scattered

throughout Essex County and they are often

difficult to reach. Knowing where supportive

services are located and obtaining the proper

documentation to apply for assistance can be

daunting and deter many homeless from pursuing

help. Not having a phone or money for public

transportation to travel to the different agencies

presents an additional obstacle for those struggling

to obtain assistance.

Bridges' Coalition of Services was established to

eliminate these obstacles by providing an

immediate and direct link to resources for the

homeless in neighborhoods where they live.

Bridges' Coalition of Services was launched on

December 12, 2011, and continues the second

Monday of every month rotating to three distinct

neighborhoods in Newark, where a high homeless

population is known to live. On each Coalition

outreach, health and social service providers are

available for immediate services. Typically, services

include a mobile medical van; a doctor and nurse;

HIV testing vans; legal services; mental health

services; housing referrals; and job training.

Bridges' distinctive yellow truck and team of

volunteers providing food, clothing and personal

necessities draw large groups of homeless from

the neighborhood to the Coalition.

The success of the Coalition of Services is

attributed to the partnerships we have built with

other health and social service providers including

among others:

Essex County Division of Welfare

Essex-Newark Legal Services

The G.I. Go Fund

Hyacinth AIDS Foundation

Mental Health Assoc. of Essex County, Inc.

Newark Beth Israel Medical Center

Newark Division of Homeless Healthcare

Newark Renaissance House

North Jersey Community Research

Initiative

Office of the Mayor Cory A. Booker

(Newark 50 Project)

PROCEED, Inc.

Project Live, Inc.

Prudential.

U.S. Department of Veteran’s

Administration

On average, at each of the first 5 Coalition

outreaches, 65 people accessed services while

another 65 come just for food. On these

outreaches, people have received direct medical

care, testing for HIV and immediate access to

treatment when necessary, and intake for housing

and mental health services which, on several

occasions, has led to supportive housing.

Bridges is committed to the long-term

sustainability of its Coalition of Services with the

ultimate goal of helping people access services

that will help them off the street and into long

term housing, allowing them to become

independent members of our community. Toward

that end, Governor Codey's proposals and

legislation outlined today will go a long way in

addressing the many and complicated issues facing

those who are homeless among us…”

Contact us to learn more about Bridges' Coalition

of Services and how you or your company can get

involved.

COALITION RECOGNIZED BY SENATOR RICHARD CODEY

The Community Foundation of New Jersey is available to provide donors with a full range of planned giving opportunities.

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TEENS RECEIVE FOUNDER’S AWARD

The Founder’s Award is granted each spring

to one or more high school juniors or

graduating seniors in honor of the co-founders

of Bridges, Ginger and Geoff Worden; the first

Executive Director, Ellen Maher; the first Board

of Trustees; and early volunteers.

The award is given to those individuals who

have faithfully and effectively engaged with

fellow students to support the work of Bridges

and who have proven to be a friend to the

homeless with whom we are in

community. These individuals will also exhibit

traits, which in the opinion of the Bridges Board

of Trustees, will enable them to continue to

thoughtfully and lovingly touch the world in

important and meaningful ways. In honor of the

recipients, children from a Newark shelter will

go to a summer camp program.

Over 1,500 volunteers participate in a Bridges’

Run every year; more than half are high school

students.

This year’s junior class award recipients are:

Dylann Ephraimson, Morristown Beard

Cici Flannigan, Summit High School

Jack McCaffery, The Pingry School

Matt Munro, Oratory Prep

Lainie Rowland, Madison High School

Antoinio Siderio, Bonnie Brae

July Toohey, Kent Place School

Will van Nispen, Millburn High School

Senior class award recipients are:

Rachael Edelson, Oak Knoll School

Jennifer Gonzalez, Governor Livingston High

School

Abby Krupnick, Summit High School

Stephanie Mangina, Roselle Catholic High

School

Maria Isabella Pontoriero, Oak Knoll School

Congratulations to the recipients

of the 2012 Bridges’ Founder’s Award.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS -

GET MORE INVOLVED WITH BRIDGES

Join the Teens Tackle Homeless Steering

Committee facebook page: Bridges Teen Steering

Committee or contact: Dan RosenHanst,

danny@bridgesoutreach.net.

This summer, we volunteer activities planned for

you. Read about summer activities for sheltered

children on page 2.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS -

SAVE THE DATE

TEENS TACKLE HOMELESSNESS

CONFERENCE

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2012

KENT PLACE SCHOOL

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

SENATOR RICHARD CODEY, TWICE

TEEN NEWS

Junior Class Founder’s Award Recipients present to receive awards at Bridges Annual Meeting on June 4th.

L-R: Jack McCaffery, Will van Nispen, Julia Toohey,

Danny RosenHanst (Coordinator); Cici Flannigan,

Laine Rowland, Antonio Siderio.

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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.

Volunteer

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. Time on your

hands? Stop by. For more details and to register for volunteer activities, contact Craig Prince, Volunteer

Coordinator at volunteerbridges@gmail.com.

High School Students join the Teens

Tackle Homeless Committee and participate in

summer activities as well as planning for the Teen

Conference in November. Contact:

danny@bridgesoutreach.net.

New Location in Newark – Bridges is pleased to

announce a new partnership with the Good Samari-

tan Christian Church on Avon Avenue in Newark. We

will be visiting Good Samaritan on the first Saturday

of the month after our Penn Station outreach. On

our first outreach there in May, we met about 30

homeless men from the Avon Avenue neighborhood.

We look forward to working with Pastor Brian Rawls

and his congregation on this outreach.

Bridges Runs to Civic Square in Irvington began

in January 2011. The Runs started with about just

20 individuals who were homeless in that neighbor-

hood, but the Run has now group to 75 plus people

in need. We will now be making this stop every Sun-

day except the first Sunday of the month when we

will continue to visit the Irvington Neighborhood Im-

provement Corporation.

Summer volunteer and lunches needed.

www.bridgesoutreach.org

RUN NEWS

Rachel Rothchild receiving the Silver Award from the Girl

Scouts of Central and Southern NJ at the Silver Award

Ceremony on May 18th. For her Silver project, Rachel

organized three troops from Edison, Metuchen and Highland

Park to make hundred of breakfast bags and toiletry kits for

Bridges.

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Denville Community Church joined us on another run and brought Men’s jeans and T-shirts.

Thanks to Julia who organized a flip flop drive in her school. The footwear will go to the Newark children going to camp for two weeks.

Students from Allen W. Roberts Elementary School on their AWR PRIDE Day making lunches for Bridges.

Alex made over 100 Brown Bag Lunches for Bridges as part of his Mitzvah Project

Pingry students and faculty out with our Core volunteers in NYC. Thanks all the nurses at Overlook Hospital that organized and donated toiletries in honor of “Nurse’s Week.”

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Chatham Girl Scouts celebrate the G. S. 100th birthday by buying supplies & making 100 Lunches for Bridges with their cookie money.

Students from the PEP program in Summit continues to volunteer with Bridges on our Runs to NYC.

The students at The Pingry School did an awesome job of decorating the lunch bags.

Kent Place & Delbarton joining forces for a Friday NYC Run.

Ms. Richeda's class celebrating their 100th day of preschool by donating 100 toothbrushes and toothpaste to Bridges.

Matthew Munro from Oratory Prep contacted Hanes on behalf of Bridges & requested a sock donation. Hanes delivered over 5,000 pairs of socks thanks to Matt!!!