Community Support - Bridges Life Organization
Community Support - Bridges Life Organization
bridges-life.org
Our Story
I started bridges-life.org with a simple goal in mind: to create a platform that makes it easy for people to connect with others who share their interests and passions. Our journey has been a long and winding one, but we're proud of what we've accomplished so far.
At Bridges, we: Teach Life Skills: From budgeting and cooking, to job readiness and problem-solving. Connect Communities: Linking individuals, agencies, and nonprofits to meet both immediate and long-term needs. Empower People: Offering tools, guidance, and encouragement to help people gain confidence and independence. We’re not a traditional nonprofit—we act fast. Our small, trusted team makes decisions quickly so we can respond when help is needed now, not weeks later. How You Can Help? Your donation will help us create a welcoming space for workshops, support groups, and resources—a hub where people can learn, connect, and rebuild their lives. Together, we can create communities where people lift each other up and help one another thrive. Bridges-Life.org – Building Skills, Connections, and Hope
Who We Are. Why We Act. How We Do It.
🌉 Bridges: Building Connections
At Bridges, we do more than just provide resources — we teach practical skills and foster community support services that empower individuals.
Why: We empower people through knowledge and skills, creating an intergenerational impact. Often, individuals don’t realize what they don’t know, and building skills is the first step to constructing bridges in their lives.
How: Bridges connects individuals to essential social services and community resources. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions, we focus on the bigger picture, helping people meet immediate needs while equipping them with the tools to thrive long-term.
“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” — Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie
If you're looking to make a difference, find out how you can get involved with Bridges today.
Because everyone deserves a bridge
At Bridges, we understand that access to basic needs — such as safe housing, nutritious food, healthcare, and financial resources — is vital for health, stability, and success. When these needs aren’t met, it’s challenging to thrive.
Helping People Meet Needs and Build Independence
🏠Safe and Stable Housing
A home is more than just a roof — it’s the foundation for family health, children’s success, and long-term stability.
🍎 Food and Healthcare
Reliable access to healthy food and healthcare enables individuals and families to stay strong, manage illness, and thrive.
đź’µ Economic Security
Through financial education, support programs, and safety nets, we empower people to meet today’s needs while planning for the future.
🤝 Community Support Services
Navigating assistance programs can be overwhelming. Bridges helps individuals connect with local organizations, find the right resources, and build support networks — reducing isolation and opening doors to opportunity.
🌱 Equity and Self-Sufficiency
We promote fairness in access to resources and teach skills that empower individuals to transition from short-term support to long-term independence.
We provide the tools and guidance — but the journey to a better life is yours to build. If you're looking to get involved with Bridges, we welcome your support in our mission.
Meet the Founder: The Heart Behind Bridges
From Struggle to Strength – Help Us Build Bridges
I grew up in a small farming community where “it takes a village” wasn’t just a saying—it was a way of life. Neighbors helped each other, young supported old, and no one was left behind. From that, I learned the power of community and what can happen when people work together. My parents taught me self-sufficiency, resourcefulness, and that
“where there’s a will, there is a way.” Those lessons became my compass through life.
I’ve worn many hats: teacher, municipal worker, caregiver for neuro-divergent children and adults, and bartender. Whatever hat it took to make ends meet. I’ve raised four incredible kids to adulthood, survived trauma and illness, and fought through the challenges of disability, financial hardship, living at and below the poverty level and starting over. I have fought for a child on the spectrum to receive a proper education and have navigated a system not designed for the layman.
I know the challenges of not being able to meet basic needs and how significantly that impacts all aspects of life; physical health, mental well-being, stability and parenting.
I know struggle intimately—but I also know resilience and the power of hope.
Re-entering the workforce after years of illness was humbling. My skills were outdated, my confidence shaken, and my age worked against me. But I refused to give up.
I learned to pivot, adapt, and rebuild.
And along the way, I realized something powerful—life skills can be learned at any age.
That realization inspired Bridges-Life.org.
Why the name Bridges-life.org
It was inspired by a local park I visit often—a place filled with beautifully unique bridges in a natural environment. Mother Nature provided and man complimented. From trees to trails, rivers to wildlife, it is a place of calm and serenity. That peacefulness kept me going back but the bridges kept my attention; Every nut, bolt, weld and anchor masterfully placed to make each one unique, strong, steady, and resilient for generations.
Life is Similar.
It takes the right tools and the know-how to build for a better tomorrow.
We build bridges to move forward, connect, and support one another.
That is why I named it Bridges-Life.org. Nothing about the name was by chance...
Bridges are a way from one place to another, the dash represents the journey towards thriving for life.
Today, I’m a 54-year-old mother, daughter, sister, friend—and survivor. I am a teacher of life skills for practical every day applications. There is no better teacher than trials and tribulations and well, I have been there and done that.
My goal is to teach others the skills to not just merely survive but to live self-sufficiently and to thrive because
there should be more to life, for all of us, than just merely surviving.
If you're looking to make a difference, find out how you can get involved with Bridges today.