Statements
Mission
The Bridge Ministry exists to alleviate the suffering of underprivileged children, the homeless, and the working poor by providing life-sustaining resources and a message of hope.
Background
In November 2004, while suffering from depression, Candy Christmas carried her one little pot of jambalaya under a bridge to feed a few of Nashville's homeless. Over countless Tuesdays under Jefferson Street bridge, God has done nothing short of the miraculous by growing one pot of jambalaya into a ministry that now not only meets the needs of the homeless but touches thousands of lives across middle Tennessee. The Bridge faithfully serves the unhoused and under-resourced of Nashville every Tuesday evening, fills school children's backpacks with snacks for their day and meals for their weekend, serves families in need and other local ministries on a weekly basis, and so much more!
Impact
What began as a simple pot of jambalaya under a Bridge has now expanded into a ministry spanning from Nashville to Chapel Hill, serving thousands of families, veterans, students, and unhoused individuals across the Middle Tennessee area. Beyond our longstanding work on Tuesday nights, we have expanded into six comprehensive branches that meet needs across our community. The following are the six major programs of The Bridge, Inc.
Church Under the Bridge
The beginning of a mission that now touches the whole city, Church Under the Bridge is perhaps the most recognizable branch of how we serve. On Tuesday nights, we gather with our guests, many of whom are unhoused, underneath the Jefferson Street Bridge. Week after week, we provide for physical needs by distributing hot meals, groceries, water, emergency camping supplies, clothing, sleeping bags, backpacks, tents, and coats.
Bridge to Kids
We firmly believe that no child in our city should suffer from the effects of food insecurity. To assist hardworking parents and local schools, we pack food bags for children in need called Bridge Bags, ensuring that our young friends have meals for evenings and weekends. In 2021, we were able to give over 105,000 Bridge Bags to children across our city! In addition to Bridge Bags, The Bridge partners with multiple apartments in the summer to provide Bridge Bags, hot meals, and backpacks filled with schools supplies for kids.
Bridge to Christmas
Our year-end milestone, Bridge to Christmas, is a highlight year after year. 2021 was the second year we distributed gifts and food bags in a drive-through model, allowing us to serve thousands. More than 250 gift wrappers, food bag packers, and volunteers came out in full force to serve our city. Through frigid temperatures and rain showers, volunteers were able to distribute over 3,000 food bags and over 2,000 bundles of gifts to families this Christmas.
Bridge to Community
The Bridge to Community Program partners with like-minded service providers across the community. It is a joy to share our resources and work as one part of a much larger puzzle to care for the unhoused and hungry in Middle Tennessee, and we've seen beautiful success stories come out of collaboration with other nonprofits and ministries. Over the course of 2021, we were able to share the resources we have to provide hundreds of meals to other ministries and shelters.
Bridge to You
The Bridge to You Program is a program that was birthed in response to the pandemic. It brings The Bridge beyond the scope of the Jefferson St Bridge and to the communities around the city. We also serve friends in two local apartment complexes along with two additional encampments in Nashville. Our understanding of the needs in Nashville has expanded from underneath one bridge to relationships and ministry opportunities that span across those housed and unhoused. Throughout 2021, we served six apartment complexes where we distributed over 4,000 grocery boxes, 3,000 gallons of milk, 3,000 bags of fresh fruit, and 16,000 Bridge Bags. In the two encampments, we served 2,400 hot meals, 2,400 non-perishable food bags, and 14,400 bottles. In addition to food and water resources, we provided dozens of tents, hundreds of sleeping bags and blankets, and thousands of clothing items.
The Bridge Chapel Hill
Over the past couple of years, we have noticed an opportunity in Chapel Hill to meet the needs of local families with hot meals, food bags, back-to-school items, and toys for children at Christmas. The many beautiful families in this area have been a joy to serve as we've expanded our efforts south. In Chapel Hill during 2021, we were able to distribute 161 back-to-school backpacks with supplies for bright young learners. We also provided 2,833 hot meals during our monthly outreaches and 1,775 boxes of groceries.
Needs
Our top 3 most pressing needs:
1) Bottled Water
2) Individual-size bags of chips
3) Diapers
For a list of other needed items, visit our website at www.thebridgenashville.org/get-involved or our Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3A9L7H1L2B4F7?ref_=abls_nvfly_swo
CEO Statement
As the CEO, I feel that one of the most important features of The Bridge Ministry is that we go to where people are instead of them having to come to us. We are about much more than food and clothing, that is why one of the most unique features of this ministry is that we give a message of hope.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Human Services - Children's and Youth Services |
| Secondary Category: | - |
| Tertiary Category: | - |
Areas Served
Nashville, TN and the surrounding areas.
| TN - Davidson |
