Summit
Welcome Neighbors
School Supplies
Every Friday we open our doors in Summit to neighbors
in need. As many as 25 individuals visit Bridges each
Friday to receive food, clothing and necessities. Last
year, 263 showers were taken at Bridges, helping to
restore people’s dignity.
For the sixth year, Bridges and The Christ Child Society
worked together to provide 353 Summit students
eligible for free and reduced price lunches with new
backpacks and school
supplies before the
start of the new school
year. Each child
received approximately
$80 worth of supplies
and a new backpack.
School supplies varied
according to grade,
and were based on
the schools’ requested
lists of supplies.
Parents were able to direct resources that otherwise
would have been used for school supplies towards
necessities such as food and rent.
Holiday Party
In mid-December, 49 children eligible for free and
reduced lunches attended a community holiday party
hosted by Bridges. The Junior League of Summit
inspired Bridges to organize the party and purchased
half of the new toys for the children. Keller Williams
Realty of Summit donated the other half of the toys, as
well as hats and gloves for every child and ShopRite
gift cards for the parents. The Summit Rotary Club
purchased new coats,
and the Pajama Program
donated new pajamas for
every child. The Summit
Fortnightly Club filled
a bag with groceries
and the Summit Area
Public Foundation
bought canned hams
for each family and
helped sponsor the
event. Bridges’ Teens
Tackle Homelessness
Committee provided
treats and played
games with the children.
The party was a true
community event with
local organizations
coming together to create a joyful event for the children
and their parents. The children happily left with a coat
and a shopping bag of gifts to put under the tree, and
parents appreciated the abundance of food for their
holiday table.
A portion of the school supplies were purchased with
grants from the Central Presbyterian Church in Summit,
The Junior League of Summit, Merrill Lynch, the Summit
Area Public Foundation and the Summit Luminary Fund.
Sara Szynal, a Summit high school student, raised
over $1,500 to purchase new backpacks and school
supplies as part of a US History class project, and local
parents donated school supplies at the end of last
year’s school year.
MLK Day of Service
As in previous years, Bridges was buzzing with activity
as 150 volunteers of all ages made lunches, sorted
clothing and toiletries, wrapped books and made quilts
for sheltered children.
PHOTOS: Top to Botom, L-R: A holiday party volunteer helps young boy select
new pajamas; Rotary volunteers hand out new winter coats for local children;
Christ Child Society co-chairs Sally Golding (L) and Jane Murphy pre