Program areas at Building Peaceful Bridges
Sponsorship and mentoring of newcomer families is the largest of the program services. Expenses include rent, transportation, moving costs, food and medicine. Additionally, families needed financial support for utilities, phones, tablets, baby items. During 2022, Building Peaceful Bridges sponsored/mentored 34 refugee families.
Educational programs such as learning luncheons, book club and speaking engagements provided opportunities to share the stories of the newcomer families. Additionally, Building Peaceful Bridges' website provides relevant information about current needs and situations of families. Other distributed educational materials include a quarterly newsletter and an annual report, which are sent to current and potential donors.
Bridge to Belongings is a program that solicits outside donations of household goods, clothing, school supplies, first aid kits, toiletries, and cleaning supplies for newcomers. The donations are then distributed to the newcomer families through specific visits to the families or at St. Joseph's in Wilmette, IL, which houses the donations. Bridge to Belongings provided such goods to more than 400 newcomers in 2022.