STA and Visitation Furniture Drive is the
Second Largest in Bridging, Inc. History

MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn., Oct. 15, 2007 – Student volunteers from Saint Thomas Academy and Convent of the Visitation organized the second-largest fundraiser in Bridging, Inc. history. Saint Thomas Academy and Visitation are the first schools to take on an entire furniture and house wares drive. Most schools have concentrated on collecting one or two items (like towels or kitchen utensils).

Over the course of three days (October 5-7), approximately 50 STA and Visitation students, parents, faculty and alumni volunteered their time to help with the drive and hundreds of people donated items.

A full-sized semi trailer was completely filled by the afternoon of October 6th; the schools then rented a 26-foot truck to continue collecting items. That truck was also filled and an STA alumnus donated the use of his trailer to store and deliver the remainder of the donations.

According to Mary Proepper, external relations manager for Bridging, Inc., the students, under the guidance of Saint Thomas Academy Campus Minister Kaija DeWitt, helped collect the equivalent of two semi trailers of product.

Said Proepper, “Based on thrift shop value, it is a product donation equal to $46,000. This was the second-largest drive in the history of BRIDGING; a typical drive fills about one semi trailer. This incredible drive will help the equivalent of 20 families to furnish their homes with necessary furniture and house wares.”

The students also organized a chair fundraiser that collected $300, allowing Bridging to purchase materials for 60 chairs.


About Bridging, Inc.
Founded in 1987, Bridging is a non-profit 501(c)(3), operating warehouse space in Bloomington, Roseville, and Central Minnesota. Bridging was founded on the simple concept that community resources should be shared with those in need. Our purposes is to "bridge the gap" between those who have and those have not. Our mission is to provide the economically disadvantaged in transition with quality furniture and household items free of charge following a home visit and referral from a registered agency.

Bridging benefits those in desperate need including refugees, immigrants, victims of family violence, natural disasters and the homeless, who are given a sense of dignity and stability as they rebuild their lives.