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Bridge Communities' Auto Donation Program helps client families get back on the road to self sufficiency.  Donated vehicles help client families have safe transportation to get to work and to transport their kids to school and child care. 48 cars were donated to Bridge client families last year.

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How you can help » Bridge Communities GIVING Party

Bridge Communities GIVING Party

Host a Charity Birthday Party and Help Homeless Kids

For many of us, our children's birthdays have become occassions of getting stuff.... LOTS of stuff.  This excess can make us wish for simpler, less materialistic celebrations we remember from when we were kids.  Birthdays can be overwhelming for the child and the parents.  There may be presents from parents and grandparents...or from other relatives...and even more gifts from friends who come to your child's party.  Birthdays today run the risk of being less about celebrating a special day and more about GETTING. 

But Bridge Communities' has an opportunity to help our children increase their understanding of empathy for others, begin a tradition of generosity and the desire to give to those who have much less.

As you begin to plan your child's next birthday party consider hosting a GIVING PARTY to benefit the client families in the Bridge Communities Transitional Housing program.  As part of the GIVING PARTY birthday your party guests will participate in activities from "What's It Like to Be Homeless" Educational Curriculum and receive Bridge Communities token gifts for a party 'goodie bag'.  In lieu of (or in addition to) traditional birthday gifts, your guests will bring a gift for a Bridge Communities family or child.


GIVING PARTY gift options:

  • QUARTERS FOR KIDS - To clean their clothes, all families must use quarters in the leased laundry facilities in their apartment building. A roll of quarters is a creative option for a GIVING PARTY gift.
  • GIFT CARDS - provide that extra bit of help for client families when they have an unexpected expense that stretches their budget beyond their capacity.  Gift cards to food stores (Dominicks, Jewel, and Meijer) and retailers (Wal-Mart, Target, Kohls) can help a family with necessary purchases when they have an unexpected car repair or extra child-care expense.
  • GASOLINE CARDS - every client family must work or attend school while in the Bridge Transitional Housing program so extra help is appreciated to help pay for gasoline to get to work and children to school and child care.
  • NEW BOOKS AND GAMES - both of these make a great GIVING PARTY gift to share with Bridge kids for their own birthday or other special occassion.
  • FAMILY FUN CERTIFICATES - every family wants to create special memories through time spent together, but many family-fun activities can be too expensive for our Bridge families.  A day at a local amusement park, zoo, movies or museum make a great GIVING PARTY gift for Bridge Communities' families. 


GIVING PARTY planning tools:

  • Download the "What's it Like to Be Homeless" Educational Curriculum
  • Invitation Sample
  • Certificate for Party Guests
  • Goodie Bag for Party Guests - complete the posted form and you will receive one goodie bag for each guest.  Bridge Communities' GIVING PARTY goodie bags contain:  1 Bridge Communities magnet, 1 Bridge Communities clear decal sticker, 1 Bridge Communities light-up yo-yo, 1 Bridge Communities pencil, and a thank you certificate for party guest.  You are welcome to supplement the bag with additional treats of your choice.  

The birthday party host has the option to lead guests through age appropriate activities in the Educational Curriculum.  All activities are fun, interactive and will help the children learn more about how they can help homeless families in their community.