About Us

Bridging, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization primarily serving the Twin Cities, provides donated furniture and household goods to families and individuals transitioning out of homelessness and poverty. Bridging gives hope and a leap towards housing stability. With locations in Roseville and Bloomington, Bridging is driven by volunteers and donations of basic home essential items from the community.

Since 1987, Bridging has served nearly 110,000 households (more than 330,000 individuals), and reduces landfill space by 11 million pounds each year.  View the Founder Fran legacy video to hear more about Bridging’s origin and story behind the mission.

OUR MISSION: Bridging empowers people to thrive in their homes by providing quality furniture and household goods for those pursuing housing stability.

OUR VALUES: Dignity, Service, Partnership, Stewardship, Excellence, and Gratitude

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, & BELONGING: At Bridging, we value unique backgrounds, perspectives and experiences ensuring that everyone- clients, volunteers, staff, board, donors, agency and community partners – feel that they are welcome and are a part of the Bridging community. We value the dignity and inclusion of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, abilities, sexual orientation, life experiences or any other identities, and seek to learn and celebrate differences. We believe that creating an inclusive environment based on respect, trust and service are integral to how we serve clients, support the team, and achieve our mission. Read Bridging’s full Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Statement here.

CLIENTS SERVED: More than 4,600 households are served per year; more than 40% of the individuals we serve are children under 17 years of age. Nearly 80% of clients have a household annual income of less than $20,000 per year. (Based on 2022 statistics.)

VOLUNTEERS: Thousands of individual and group volunteers donate service hours each year.

Bridging Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Statement (DEIB)

Bridging’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Statement

At Bridging, we value unique backgrounds, perspectives and experiences ensuring that everyone- clients, volunteers, staff, board, donors, agency and community partners – feel that they are welcome and are a part of the Bridging community. We value the dignity and inclusion of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, abilities, sexual orientation, life experiences or any other identities, and seek to learn and celebrate differences. We believe that creating an inclusive environment based on respect, trust and service are integral to how we serve clients, support the team, and achieve our mission.

Bridging recognizes that we have a responsibility to center equity in our work.  Therefore, Bridging strives to make our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging evident in our environment, policies, processes, staff, and volunteers. In order to integrate these crucial competencies throughout our organization’s culture, we commit to the following:

  • Fostering an environment that supports, engages and includes people with different racial, cultural, economic, ages and religious backgrounds as well as those with varying physical abilities, gender identities and sexual orientations.
  • Diversifying and tapping into partnerships beyond traditional allies and constituencies.
  • Entering intercultural relationships with humility, prepared to listen, learn, follow their lead, and adapt our methods and practices to achieve mutual benefit.
  • Recruiting, hiring, retaining, and developing a culturally competent team whose demographics more closely mirror those of our Twin Cities community.
  • Ensuring Bridging policies and procedures are welcoming and do not further inequities.

APPROVED by Board of Directors: December, 2018, revised April, 2023

2022 Report to the Community

2022 Report to the Community

We are pleased to share our 2022 Report to the Community:

The people who walked me through the warehouse, the front desk volunteer to the delivery guys – not once did I feel judged; it was as if I was at the furniture store buying furniture! I appreciate being treated with such respect. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you’ve done for me.” — Jennifer, Bridging client

Dear Friends of Bridging,

In 2022, we engaged in Bridging’s mission and served more, better. Together, we expanded the number of households served by more than 10%, rising to meet the community’s ever-increasing demand for our important services. We celebrate that we were able to furnish 4,609 homes with hope last year!

Bridging is a vital community resource, and we value the inherent dignity of each person in the relational work we do. As a furniture bank sustained by the community, we provide furniture and household goods to individuals and families as they transition to housing stability. We make it a priority to create a person-centered experience alongside everyone who shops at Bridging and the many partners who assist with our services. We demonstrate respect through our efforts to understand diverse strengths and needs, striving to create a welcoming place for all.

As you read our 2022 Report to the Community, you will find stories and outcomes that reflect our focus on dignity and commitment to our critical work.

I am grateful for you and all the incredible ways you have helped ensure Bridging’s impact is felt throughout the community. We look forward to your continued participation and support as we pursue our vision that everyone lives in a furnished home.

Sincerely,

Mark Wilkening

Executive Director (he/him)

Bridging's Financial Reports - Financial Statement, 990, In-kind and Financial Donors

U.S. Veteran Kelly Ann and Service Dog Dino Share the Importance of Bridging

  Click here to listen to Kelly Ann tell her story.     Kelly Ann is a U.S. Air Force Veteran who served during the late 1990s. Since that time, she has struggled and persevered through many challenges, buoyed by her own inner strength and the companionship of her...

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