My name is Annie. This holiday season while you are shopping around looking for the perfect gift for your loved ones, I would like you to think about the less fortunate, who do not have loved ones to receive gifts from.
This year I am setting up a fundraiser for an organization called "The Bridge for Youth." I am chose this organization because more than 6,000 youth go homeless on any given night in Minnesota. This makes up 46% of the homeless population in Minnesota.
The mission of The Bridge for Youth is to provide runaway and homeless youth safe shelter, assist in the prevention and resolution of family conflicts and reunify families whenever possible.
Last year 28% of youth seeking shelter at The Bridge had been perviously hospitalized for mental health problems; 26% had inflicted self harm and 19% had attempted suicide. The Bridge provides weekly support groups for community building conversations for crime victims, LGBTQ+ youth, and more.
They have two Emergency shelters, which are open all year round, where they provide temporary shelter, meals, access to health care, case managers and support for youth. The shelters are for ages 10-17, one of which provides shelter for youth and their children.
Rita’s House is an intentional living community, providing affordable rental housing and teaching independent living skills to twelve youth ages 18-21. Marlene’s Place is the first and only site-based transitional housing and case management program in Hennepin County for homeless, pregnant/parenting teens (ages 16-20) and their children (ages 0-3).
Homeless youth are important to me and I feel like everyone deserves to be loved and cared for. Especially those who feel like they are alone in the world. Thank you for taking the time to read this and helping those who don’t have a safe place to go when they are feeling vulnerable.
For more information about "The Bridge for Youth" please check out the website at
https://bridgeforyouth.org