Bridges Outreach, Inc., in partnership with the Christ Child Society of Summit, distributed school supplies to 310 children on Thursday, August 25th and on Friday, August 26th at the Oakes Center in Summit. Any child in Summit who qualified for a free or reduced lunch was invited to receive a new backpack and any school supply they needed. Additionally, individual schools in Summit were supplied with additional backpacks and supplies to give to students as needed. “This was the first collaboration between Bridges and the Christ Child Society of Summit and it was a tremendous success. It can only get better next year,” commented Lois Bhatt, Bridges Executive Director. Bridges also distributed over 500 new backpacks to schools, shelters and libraries in Newark and Irvington for children in need.
New backpacks were purchased through contributions from individuals and grants from the Summit Area Public Foundation, the Community Congregational Church in Short Hills, the Carvel Foundation and the Victoria Fund and Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel. Collections points at St. Teresa’s in Summit, Westy Storage in Chatham and Bridges brought donations of thousands of notebooks, pens, pencils, and other sundry school supplies from individuals, corporations, and houses of worship.
The Christ Child Society of Summit is a non denominational organization that provides aid and supplies to at-risk children in Summit and neighboring towns.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Two Fun-Filled Days for Shelter Children
This summer, Bridges hosted two fun-filled one-day trips for children and teens from the Emergency Residency Program (ERP), a shelter in Newark. Wednesday, July 21st, was one hot day of summer fun in New York City for 16 teens from the ERP and 7 teen volunteers from Bridges along with five chaperones. The day started with a walk from Penn Station in New York City to Pier 83 to take the Circle Line Cruise around Manhattan. From there, the group stopped for lunch and then walked across the heart of Broadway to the NBC Studios for a tour of the studios and a view of the studios of many popular television programs.
On August 18th, younger children as well as a small group of teens from the ERP and 7 teen volunteers from Bridges along with adult chaperones spent the day in Philadelphia. The day began by boarding a tour bus in front of the ERP. Once in Philly, a tour guide from Philadelphia Trolley Works hopped on board to give a 90 minute tour of Philadelphia. Lunch at Drexel University and then the rest of the afternoon was spent at the Philadephia Zoo.
Both days provided a great opportunity for children from the ERP to experience a new city and to make friends with Bridges teen volunteers. This day was made possible through grants from the Sarah Ward Foundation, The Agnes and Thomas Carvel Foundation and the Victoria Foundation.
On August 18th, younger children as well as a small group of teens from the ERP and 7 teen volunteers from Bridges along with adult chaperones spent the day in Philadelphia. The day began by boarding a tour bus in front of the ERP. Once in Philly, a tour guide from Philadelphia Trolley Works hopped on board to give a 90 minute tour of Philadelphia. Lunch at Drexel University and then the rest of the afternoon was spent at the Philadephia Zoo.
Both days provided a great opportunity for children from the ERP to experience a new city and to make friends with Bridges teen volunteers. This day was made possible through grants from the Sarah Ward Foundation, The Agnes and Thomas Carvel Foundation and the Victoria Foundation.
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