How exactly does Bridging provide a foundational home setup of furniture and essential household items to 120 households in the Twin Cities each week? Behind the scenes at Bridging there is a humble, mighty, and kind-hearted team that plays a vital role in ensuring that donations from the community fill the Bridging warehouse shelves, and inventory is organized and accessible for individuals to select their favorite items.

Perhaps most notably, this extraordinary team is the final leg in the Bridging experience. They deliver furniture and essential household items to clients’ homes, providing excellent service with dignity. They walk alongside community members at an emotional and memorable time of furnishing their homes with hope.

Bloomington Warehouse Manager Andrew Ronning and Roseville Warehouse Manager Trevor Dugan took a few minutes to introduce the dedicated Bridging Warehouse and Delivery Team and describe the important work they do, day in and day out, to make Bridging’s mission possible.

Q: Behind the scenes, what does a typical day look like for the Warehouse and Delivery Team?

A: “Every day there is an essential list of activities that happen at the Bridging warehouses, though the workload varies from day to day,” says Andrew.

Our teams:

• Make deliveries to clients
• Pick up donations of furnishings from homes and businesses
• Load trucks
• Receive donations at each warehouse
• Restock shelves
• Organize inventory

“We rely on community donations and volunteers to make our mission happen,” Andrew says. “About 40% of the time, we are accepting donations at Bridging and out in the community. And about 60% of the time our team delivers furniture to clients’ homes. In between, our team is organizing and restocking inventory.”

“There are so many people, both staff and volunteers, that support what we do. We have to follow very clear standards and processes,” adds Trevor. “For example, we have clear and high standards for what we do and do not accept. We only accept quality items.”

Q: Who makes sure all of the aspects of this work fit together and run smoothly?

A: “Warehouse managers and supervisors ensure that daily warehouse operations, pickups, and deliveries run smoothly,” says Trevor.  “And when I say “smoothly” I mean it’s about as smooth as a Minnesota road during a snowfall in the middle January.”  All jokes aside, it REALLY is a team effort.  Although we each have certain roles and different responsibilities, we need to work together to get everything accomplished. I would be a failure as a manager if it wasn’t for my team helping me pick up the slack!

Sara and Bailey, our floor supervisors, are responsible for everything on the floor.  This includes receiving goods, all items on display for shopping, as well as the organization of the entire warehouse.  They work closely with the volunteers and help with group activities as well. 

Harry, and John, our Assistant Warehouse Managers, are responsible for coordinating all the deliveries, pick-ups, and procurement opportunities.  Once they’ve completed all those tasks, they work with the team and ensure the trucks are loaded and packed for the next day’s deliveries.

As the Warehouse Managers, Andrew and I oversee the operations of the Bridging warehouse to ensure safety, organization, and customer service.  We essentially manage all things under the warehouse umbrella.  This can change drastically from day to day as we navigate through all potential challenges that may occur.  Overall, we’re building relationships and encouraging success in whatever form that may take.”

Q: What’s unique about being a Warehouse and Delivery team member at Bridging?

A: “We’re not just moving furniture.” says Trevor. “Our team members have special skills in connecting with people with different needs.”

“Out on deliveries, the team is open to a range of emotions and situations. They may meet a child who is so excited because they can’t believe they have a bed to sleep on!  Sometimes people we’re delivering to have faced many struggles. They may meet someone who is navigating mental health or physical issues. They’ll talk with someone who is feeling sadness because of a loss or trauma. Someone may have been hospitalized, or they may have experienced a house fire. Sometimes someone may be feeling distrust because they’ve been let down by systems or been discriminated against in the past. We meet people where they’re at with dignity and empathy and provide excellent service.”

“Our team is the final stop in someone’s journey with housing, and the final leg of the Bridging process. Someone gets a home, makes a Bridging appointment, and waits patiently for the day to arrive. They can’t wait for the day. After they shop, their furniture is delivered. They invite us in their home for this important step. That’s personal! That’s special.”

Q: What strengths and skillsets do you see Bridging’s Warehouse and Delivery Team members bringing to work with them every day?

A: “Flexibility is key. Our team navigates unexpected events with care,” says Andrew. “We hope we do our best communicating at all points in the process including shopping, packing, and deliveries, but sometimes unexpected changes come up.”

“We go the extra mile to provide excellent service. We do everything we can to help,” says Andrew. “We try to meet people’s needs. We may wait extra time if someone is on the bus, and it’s running late. We may go on to our next delivery and circle back to the home of the person who needed extra time.”

“When someone needs extra help and we’re able to, we will set up someone’s bed or move some of the furniture into the bedrooms, kitchen, and  other areas.”

Q: What do you like most about working at Bridging?

A: “The seemingly little things can be the big things,” says Trevor. “When we bring in the furniture, and the bookshelf fits perfectly and makes that section of the apartment look so cool, you can see the excitement on someone’s face. You can hear it in their voice. It makes you feel good. When someone looks you in the eyes and says thank you, it makes our whole week.”

“What I like about my job is when things fall into place,” says Andrew. “We have all these runs, corporate pickups, residential pickups, a full day of deliveries. When we finish everything, I feel really good about it. We can start fresh again tomorrow.”

“I love seeing the teamwork,” says Trevor. “When I step back and look at the big picture, see everyone who makes it happen, and everything goes smoothly, it’s a great feeling.”

Thank you to the Bridging Warehouse and Delivery Team for your dedication! You rock!

DID YOU KNOW?

• Bridging serves 120 households each week and more than 5,000 households each year.
• The Warehouse and Delivery Team completes up to 96 deliveries to community members’ homes each week.
• Bridging’s inventory of items, donated by the community, is equivalent to 15 semi-truck loads EACH WEEK!
• Bridging’s inventory is housed in two huge warehouses: a 25,000-square-foot space in Bloomington and 40,000-square-foot space in Roseville!