News Archives for July 2010

Welcome New Board Members

July 28, 2010

Sitting board members were thrilled to welcome the 2010-11 incoming board members at the agency’s recent annual meeting.  Board chair Valeria Matlock commented that she was excited to chair the board of an organization that looked forward and was eager make plans and changes in the coming year.  Board meetings are the fourth Monday of alternating months at noon and are open to the public.

Bridges Volunteers for Flood Relief

July 1, 2010

When the flood waters rose in May, each and every person in Nashville knew someone that was affected.  Because of this, Bridges staff spent time both at work and on site to help our fellow Nashvillians to clean up and begin the rebuilding process from this catastrophic event.  As thousands of volunteers from Nashville, the volunteer state, and all around the country gave thousands of hours, their sweat, and even their tears, we were with them, and with you, trying to help our friends and neighbors get back to “normal.” 
While the “normal” of April will be different from what friends and neighbors move back to in the coming months, we should all be proud of ourselves, our city, and most of all, the way those affected rose to the challenge and will conquer the affects of the flood waters. 

In addition to the efforts of individuals, the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (http://www.cfmt.org) has been receiving donations earmarked for flood relief for almost two months now.  They have organized several funds for middle Tennessee and specific counties.  The Community Foundation is not getting paid for any of their efforts toward flood relief, and are now giving grants to nonprofits that are helping in this effort.  Also, Hands On Nashville (http://www.hon.org) almost immediately began trying to assess the volunteer need and was accepting new volunteers online to be ready to connect them to tasks when the waters were low enough. 

It will be a long, slow path towards complete recovery and things will never be just as they were before.  Nashville will rebuild and we will be better as a city and better as individuals because of these experiences. 

We want to be a resource as well.  Please let us know if you, or anyone you know, need help accessing flood assistance.  Our job is to bridge those gaps.