Guest blog post by Santina Melendez Life as we know it would never be the same Remember March of 2020? Life as we know it would never be the. Thank you guests, sponsors, donors, and volunteers! Thanks for joining Bridging and our 2021 Gala presenting sponsor, BI WORLDWIDE, to celebrate. More than 30 years ago, Fran Heitzman gave away a piece of furniture to a couple who had just had a baby.
He had no way of knowing how the idea of being a bridge between those who have excess, and those who are in need would spark thousands of volunteers to action and help thousands of people in the Twin Cities, and beyond. Bridging can change the lives of people who are transitioning out of homelessness and poverty.
He had no way of knowing how the idea of being a bridge between those who have excess, and those who are in need would spark thousands of volunteers to action and help thousands of people in the Twin Cities, and beyond. Bridging can change the lives of people who are transitioning out of homelessness and poverty.
Services
Bridging, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization primarily serving the Twin Cities, provides donated furniture and household goods to families and individuals transitioning out of homelessness and poverty. Bridging gives hope - and for many - a leap toward stability for the first time. With locations in Roseville and Bloomington, Bridging is driven by volunteers and donations of basic home essential items from the community.
Through the efforts of a small team of paid staff and nearly 5,000 volunteers each year, and more than 200 social services agencies primarily in the Twin Cities 7-county area, Bridging is able to serve over 13,000 individuals each year. Like spokes on a wheel, Bridging represents one part of the process for an individual or family to build a fresh start.
As families face the exhausting challenge of finding affordable housing, employment, education and health care they are left with severely limited resources to furnish their home. A furnished home environment is a basis for improved job performance, better grades in school and healthy family interactions.
Guest blog post by Tristen Lindemann, Bridging volunteer I volunteer as a Bridging shopper. My job is to assist clients in finding furniture and housewares for their home. If you visit Bridging, you'll see a large warehouse stacked with an ever-changing inventory of couches, chairs, lamps, pots & pans, .
If you are unable to bring your items to Bridging and you live in the Twin Cities metro area, schedule a Bridging home pick up. We offer a fee-based pick up service ($95) from your curb, driveway, or garage. Help us provide the basic home essentials to more to thousands of people every year. Items that no longer have meaning to you can mean the world to a child, family, or individual in need.
Reviews (7)
Mari-Pat P.
Dec 17, 2021
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I have donated to Bridging for several years and never had any problem, but this year I have tried on 4 separate occasions to donate perfectly good furniture items, only to have them rejected. It is a waste of my time and a waste of resources that others could use. I will no longer work with this charity.
Jim L.
Apr 02, 2019
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My company has given me the opportunity to volunteer here a couple of times. The first time we sponsored them with a dresser build where we bought several dresser kits and built them onsite for people that are looking for a dresser. This time it was helping by grabbing the requested items for orders and get them on the truck for delivery while others rolled up donated blankets and other bedding for people in need. There was also a lot of show piled up on some semi trailers that was caving in the roof of the trailer. We helped pull the wet snow down to keep more damage from happening.
I felt
I felt
Michelle J.
May 01, 2018
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First of all, I used Bridging when I first moved to MN. Awesome service, great for people who need it. My daughter also used the service. However, she is moving and doesn't have the need for the furniture and would like to donate it back because it's in good condition. I set the appointment with them and verified that I would pay $150 to have them come inside the apartment and pick it up for us. They sent two elderly gentlemen, both with back problems who probably couldn't pick them up if they were two feet from the truck. Also, they had orders to only pick it up if it were
Terri L.
Jan 17, 2018
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First volunteering event with Surly Gives a Damn for 2018! Woooooo. Bridging does great work for the community with helping families to get a basic furniture for their house. During the introductions they talked about how 200+ people use their service. So they plenty of help and donations especially during this winter time. You are able to help out an individual or a group. When I volunteered with Bridging after signing in, we were let into the warehouse. So the groups goal was to building 57 dressers. So their were people who were able to make the dresser super quick and those whose first time
Jenni B.
Jun 05, 2014
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I volunteered at Bridging with a group of co-workers recently and I was so impressed by what this organization accomplishes for people coming out of hard times. As the largest furniture bank in the US, Bridging provides everything you would need for a nice home, and one that you can be proud of.
It was really easy to coordinate with their office, they have a polished website where you can submit a request for interest in coming to volunteer, the size of the group and the time you can come. They will do all the planning, all you need to do is show up in closed toe shoes with a positive attitude
It was really easy to coordinate with their office, they have a polished website where you can submit a request for interest in coming to volunteer, the size of the group and the time you can come. They will do all the planning, all you need to do is show up in closed toe shoes with a positive attitude
Ashley F.
Apr 10, 2009
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I volunteer at Bridging two days a week, and it is such an incredible place. Lindsey pretty much summed up what they do, but I wanted to review it as well in the hope that a few of you may see this review and say:
"Gee...Maybe I don't need 17 pots and 9 pans. I should donate some of this stuff to Bridging!"
Even though times are tough, most of us could stand to spare a few pots, pans, towels or old furniture. Most of the people who Bridging helps really do have nothing in their homes. It makes you reconsider your need for stuff.
"Gee...Maybe I don't need 17 pots and 9 pans. I should donate some of this stuff to Bridging!"
Even though times are tough, most of us could stand to spare a few pots, pans, towels or old furniture. Most of the people who Bridging helps really do have nothing in their homes. It makes you reconsider your need for stuff.
Lindsey P.
Dec 09, 2008
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I had an amazing volunteer experience at this place about a month ago. It is so well organized. For those of you who don't know about the incorporation, it is basically a warehouse with used furniture and families who qualify can come and furnish their homes for free! Bridging will even help transport the furniture to the homes. It helps about 150 families a week and partners with any organization you can think of- from Habitat for Humanity, to Target, to Slumberland, and many others. I helped to put together some small cabinets from Target and felt like I had made a difference after
