You may have heard … Bridging is growing! Our third location in Plymouth is OPEN, and an enthusiastic, mission-minded team of onsite staff and volunteers is welcoming the Northwest metro community to participate in the important work of furnishing homes with hope.

Staff Spotlight

The Plymouth warehouse staff team, Bailey DeLaRosa-Troth, Kirk Hobbs, and Thaw Hser, facilitates the day-to-day operations of Bridging’s new donation drop-off hub.

Plymouth Warehouse Manager Bailey, previously the Bloomington Warehouse Floor Supervisor, brings a keen understanding of Bridging’s operations and a thoughtful approach to building inventory at the Plymouth location that will bolster the selection of furnishings available to clients. Bailey’s humble and team-oriented leadership creates a space where all feel welcome and experience excellent service.

“The new Plymouth location is exciting! There’s so much potential,” says Bailey. “We are providing convenience for donors who can drop off stuff that is in great shape, close to their homes.  We get these great pieces of furniture that help fill the gaps in our inventory. Clients have additional items to choose from. They get the furniture they need and put it to good use.”

Staff members Kirk and Thaw are both new to the Bridging team.

Retired from a career in human resources, Kirk’s person-centered approach shines at Bridging as he greets community members at the donation door and engages them in the mission.

“I enjoy getting to know the donors,” says Kirk. “Many of the people we have met say they’re so glad we’ve moved closer to where they live. They’ve heard of us, but they hadn’t visited us. We’re expanding our reach in the community.”

Previously employed in the construction industry, Thaw shows his industrious and friendly nature while completing many tasks that keep operations running smoothly.

“I love to keep busy,” says Thaw. “There is so much to do. I love to drive the trucks. And working with the volunteers is awesome!”

Beyond the Scenes at the Plymouth Warehouse

Together, the staff and a growing team of 15 Bridging volunteers complete an extensive list of responsibilities at the Plymouth location:

• Accepting quality furniture and household items at the donation door
• Sorting and organizing items for temporary storage at the Plymouth warehouse
• Loading and unloading the Plymouth Bridging truck (generously sponsored by corporate partner Ecolab)
• Transporting furniture to Bridging’s Bloomington and Roseville warehouses for client shopping
• Completing fee-based pickups in the Northwest Metro
• Meeting new community partners and building relationships

Bailey, Thaw, and Kirk give a shout-out to the dedicated team of Plymouth volunteers who helped prepare the Plymouth location before opening day and who keep daily operations running smoothly, and to Jeff Jones, a Roseville-based warehouse and delivery team member who provided outstanding training to the new Plymouth staff members during their onboarding process.

A Snapshot of Plymouth’s Inventory Outcomes and Goals

In the first month of its operations, community members have donated 44 bed sets, 76 sofas, 51 dressers, 59 kitchen tables, and 182 kitchen chairs to the Plymouth location.

“These larger Tier 1 items have already been shipped to the other Bridging locations. “We hope these furnishings are being enjoyed by clients in their homes,” says Bailey. “I’m especially proud of the large number of bed sets since every bed we source is giving someone a dignified place to sleep.”

“We thank our neighbors in Plymouth and the West metro for their strong support and rely on area donors to expand our inventory as interest in Bridging continues to grow,” he adds.

To keep pace with the continually rising demand for Bridging’s services, the Plymouth team has set ambitious donation goals for Tier 1 items: 12 bed sets, 9 large, upholstered items, 11 dressers, 9 kitchen tables, and 28 kitchen chairs per week.

The growing inventory in Plymouth has a significant and timely impact for clients who furnish their homes at Bridging.

“While we were transporting furnishings from Plymouth to the Roseville warehouse, a client picked a coffee table, right as I was bringing it out to the floor! Furnishings that are delivered today are often available on the warehouse floor tomorrow and can be in someone’s home the following day,” says Kirk. “Community donors make a meaningful impact.” 

Motivated by the Mission

As the Plymouth team reflects on their work, each person feels moved and motivated by Bridging’s mission in the community. Each team member expressed a personal connection to Bridging’s work alongside individuals and families who are entering into housing stability.

Kirk describes a personal moment when, during his onboarding process, he assisted the Bloomington team with a furniture delivery at a client’s home.

“On the second delivery, I saw a smiling young boy waiting as we came into their home. I saw myself there when I was young. My family needed extra support too. Bridging is doing the right thing; helping people when they need it,” he said through tears.

“Everyone should live in a furnished home,” says Bailey. “It takes a lot of effort and cooperation in the community to achieve Bridging’s vision.”

The Plymouth team is excited to make it happen and invite the Northwest community to drop by the new location to visit, donate, and volunteer!

Learn More about Bridging’s new Plymouth location.

Volunteer at the Plymouth location.