URGENT: Lowest inventory levels in more than five years!

PRESS RELEASE

LOWEST INVENTORY LEVELS IN MORE THAN FIVE YEARS AT BRIDGING AND DEMAND FOR SERVICES CONTINUES TO RISE

For Immediate Release: February 15, 2022

Bridging is experiencing significant shortfalls in donated inventory from private homes, retailers and hospitality donors this winter.  The chill of the winter months can be difficult for all of us. But, the demand for furniture and household goods for those seeking housing stability and the basic home essentials stays the same year-round. This lack of donated items and unpredictable shortfalls may cause a reduction in service numbers and longer wait times. We need help now!

Approximately, 75% of the donated inventory Bridging receives come from residential/home donors. This source of donations is instrumental to how well we can serve the mission. Since more than 80% of the clients served at Bridging have an annual household income of $20,000 or less, for 2-3 people, it’s critical that they can receive this gift of a basic home set up from Bridging.

“When it’s cold this time of year it’s tempting to hunker down and wait until spring to declutter, but we have families who are in need right now.” said Mark Wilkening, executive director of Bridging. “Our services at Bridging impacts their quality of life, it impacts their ability to work and learn and move forward in their lives. We need people to look around and see if they can spare a quality sofa, bed, coffee table or lamp to help us continue to serve people who need those vital items.”

One of the primary reasons that this is impacting Bridging, is that interruptions in the supply chain continues to greatly affect new furniture purchase, deliveries and bed production.  Since customers are not receiving or purchasing new items at this time, their typical donations have been severely reduced since the end of 2021 and affected our ability to meet their needs. In addition, the fatigue of COVID and a cold Minnesota winter, isn’t motivating the home donors to make plans to drop off at the warehouse or arrange a fee-based pick up.

AREAS OF SIGNIFICANT SHORTFALLS: 100 households (250 people) are served each week at Bridging.

WEEKLY NEED:

• More than 175 mattresses/box springs donated: Twin, Full, Queen and King sized
• More than 400 pieces of upholstered furniture – especially sofas and loveseats
• More than 200 lamps
• More than 300 coffee tables, night stands, small bookshelves, and end tables

Thank you for helping us serve Bridging’s mission.

Additional details about our quality standard and full list of acceptable items can be found HERE.

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Schedule a fee-based donation pick up.

• WATCH: Bridging 101 (3 minutes) – who we serve and how we serve the mission
• WATCH: Lives We Touch stories – Jess and Scott  – client testimonials
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