Amy W. Goes Full Circle with Bridging, Pays It Forward
Amy is a real estate broker, team leader and a mentor. Years ago, after working as a full-time accountant and part-time realtor, she took the leap and started her own real estate company. As she established her presence in real estate, Amy also started her own nonprofit, CLUTCH, that provides resources for single parents, divorced and widowed parent families.
Ten years ago, Amy furnished her home at Bridging. Her landlord renovated her family’s apartment and raised the rent $500 per month. Affordable housing in her community was very hard to find. She and her nine-year-old son moved out and sold all of their furniture. Fortunate to have a support system, they moved in with family for a month while they waited for the lease to start at their new place.
“Housing is not affordable for many people anymore. Unfortunately, I see that every day in the real estate industry in regards to the cost of rent,” she says. “In 2013, I was unemployed for a short period of time. I went to the county to get assistance – my one and only time.”
Hennepin County provided Amy with resources to help bridge the gap with her income and housing. One month later when she and her son moved into their new one-bedroom apartment, Bridging Agency Partner Hennepin County also provided a referral to Bridging, so she could furnish their home.
“My experience at Bridging was fabulous. I remember walking into the warehouse and seeing the shelves of donated furniture. There was positive energy. It was a good place to be.” Amy stated, with a smile on her face. “My son received a new bed. I found a loveseat, chair, bookshelf, end table and a dresser — creating the mid-century style I like. The kitchen pack with all of the cooking utensils was a surprise. As a whole, the furniture made our new place feel cozy, like a home.”
Amy continues: “We were excited when Bridging delivered everything. The shopper left me a note in one of the boxes, ‘Best wishes to you and your son.’ It was a nice finishing touch. It was really sweet.”
Ten years later, Amy works full-time in her successful real estate career. With her son in his teenage years and some flexibility in her schedule, she recently started to volunteer weekly at Bridging. Amy finds that volunteering at Bridging is very rewarding and a good connection with real estate as people tend to donate furniture when moving into new homes. As a shopping volunteer, she likes to help people select items for their home, see their personal style, and see the relief on their faces as they furnish their homes and move forward.
“The experience at Bridging was extremely humbling for me and has continued to humble me throughout the years. As a young single mother, you do everything you can to not ask for help. You want to prove that you can do it yourself. That experience motivated me and pushed me to where I am today. I didn’t want to ask for help, yet it was okay that I did.
“Now I pay it forward in every way that I can. The furniture that we were blessed to receive from Bridging has been donated back or given to others in need. And I hope to continue to volunteer at Bridging for many years to come.”