The excitement, surprises, joy, and reflection of Christmas have passed. We appreciate all the many ways you helped us bring the love of the Christmas season to our young moms and their children.
The annual big Christmas party with current and former residents, and their children, was all about excitement, renewing friendships, and showing off precious children that have grown so much. It is such a joyous evening. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all you did to help so many feel that they are cared for, important, and deserving of an amazing holiday.
Christmas can be a time of loneliness, sadness, emptiness, and hopelessness. Your many generous gifts, smiles, and volunteer hours helped assure that the young women who we care for did not feel those things, but instead knew that they were important and could have a special Christmas for themselves and their children.
February 10th is the next big event for us as it is the day of our annual fundraiser. I hope you will consider coming--not only to support us, but to enjoy an evening of fun and entertainment. We love sharing that evening with you.
Gandhi said, "Be the change you wish to see." I was recently reminded of this famous quote and it caused me to reflect on our hopes for our residents. I have often stated that sentiment in a less eloquent way when I say "fake it till you make it". Often, because of life circumstances, it is easy to feel that you are not good enough, that you can’t do this or can’t do that, that you are not worthy to have a life filled with promise, hope and joy. We try to empower the young women at Bridgeway to believe they are unique and wonderful with unlimited future possibilities. When we help them towards their future believing they are already successful, competent women and then give them the support they need to make the pieces fall together, we implement real change. We impact at least two generations when moms successfully "be the change" they wish to see and pass that future to their children.
A former resident recently wrote, "Bridgeway was the best thing that ever happened to us. They gave me the chance to believe in myself, and when I left I KNEW I was going to be a good person for me and my daughter." Our residents have felt your love, support, and encouragement not only when they are actually living at Bridgeway but for many years after. Please know that your help is impacting and changing lives and that you make a difference in young women’s lives and the lives of their children. All of us at Bridgeway thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
