Tuesdays at Bridging

The following is a series of three client shopping experiences by a Tuesday volunteer at Bridging's Bloomington warehouse. Stories such as this occur everyday at Bridging facilities in Bloomington and St. Cloud and soon to be St. Paul, as Bridging opens its third facility on October 1 of this year at 1635 Terrace Drive. The volunteer who submitted these stories to staff commented "I thought I knew what poverty looked like until I came to Bridging. I learned quickly that it could look like anyone."

Winter 2005

Winter, a year ago, I was packing up my clients dishes when I noticed an elegant woman standing next to me. She wore a long fur coat, expensive shoes and carried a handbag that would have been a months teaching salary for me. Then I realized she was one of our generous donors, just visiting us to see where her money would go. She must have noticed my curiosity as she struck up a conversation with me. She said all she had in this world was what she was wearing. She had to leave her abusive situation so quickly that she wasn't able to grab pictures of her dead parents. She was so grateful for her gently used furniture and household goods. She would now be able to start living safely.

Spring 2005

Not long after that, I had a shopping client who was a man in his 40's. He was accompanied by a pretty blond haired daughter in her early 20's. The daughter was so on edge and overprotective that we encouraged her to wait in the lobby while we helped her father shop. He was doing such a good job picking out his furniture with me and my fellow volunteer, when he stopped to take a rest and tell us his story. He was a civil engineer, earning a wonderful salary until his car accident on 494. He was left brain damaged and lost his job. Shortly after that his wife divorced him and he lost his home too. When his daughter discovered that he was homeless, she got him to the right agencies for help. He was so grateful for all his free items and left with pride. About 2 weeks later I saw him on television, featured in a story. There he was sitting on his sofa from Bridging letting his pretty daughter tell his story.

August 2005

Last August I had a doctor as a client for shopping. He was about 55 years old and seemed to be a jolly, sweet man. I noticed that he had extreme difficulty making even the smallest decisions. He kept asking for my opinion. He passed over wonderful, nearly new items to pick out quite worn out things that were bonus items. (Bonus items are extra items clients can take if they have room as there may be excess or items that don't quite meet Bridging standards) He then told me his story.

He was a practicing psychiatrist with a wonderful life; enjoying the wealth his years of hard work brought him. One night he was attacked by a gang, beaten, raped, and left for dead. He has post traumatic syndrome so can no longer work. He lost his practice and everything he owned. A social agency is looking after him. He said he laughed when they told him how much money he has to live on each month. He said he earned that in a morning! He has written a book and is looking for a publisher. He hopes that will put him back on his feet. He was smiling and cheerful during his whole shopping trip, visiting congenially with everyone around him. This mask hides the nightmare going on in his head.