“Volunteers of the Year:” Vicki Suttle and Marsha Gentry!
Vicki and Marsha have been Bridge volunteers since 2018, and together they lead the Hixson Presbyterian Church Community Assistance Team (CAT), which has co-sponsored FOUR refugee families from Burundi, Colombia and Sudan. They truly go above and beyond as volunteers to build trust and form close relationships with refugees. They currently co-sponsor a family of four from Sudan: Amani, Loma, Nada and Login. It has been such a joy to witness their friendship and love for each family. Vicki and Marsha, you have touched so many lives with your compassion, positivity and teamwork. We thank you for welcoming refugees into your hearts and community and for the countless ways you show just how much you care.
Rick Woodlee (second from right in the back row) is one of our amazing transportation volunteers. Rick’s kindness, patience, and consistency add so much to our volunteer program. We can always count on him to help refugees get to their many meetings and appointments, even at the last minute! His hard work and graciousness mean the world to us and to the many families he has assisted in the past few years. Thank you, Rick!
We recognize two of our indispensable moving volunteers – father-and-son team Rick and Alex Ridder! Every refugee who arrives in Chattanooga comes home to a fully furnished and set up apartment or house, all thanks to Rick and Alex. Their family has been volunteering with Bridge for years, and they have devoted countless hours and miles to picking up donated furniture and moving furniture and household goods into apartments for new arrivals. Rick, Alex, and Cheryl have been such a huge blessing to Bridge – thank you from our staff and from all of the refugees in Chattanooga who have been impacted by your kind spirits and friendship.
Our work would not be possible without the strong relationships we maintain with many community partners and teams of volunteers.Among our ever-growing network, we thank:
– Tech Goes Home Chattanooga for giving recent arrivals access to devices for continued ESL learning during this pandemic.
– Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Chattanooga Area, Inc. for supporting refugees in their pursuits to become homeowners.
– The Samaritan Center and Urban League Chattanooga for providing school supplies for refugee students.
– Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) for helping us ensure that refugees can navigate the local bus system.
– TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and Chattanooga Latter-day Saints for helping us furnish and move the homes of new arrivals.
– Our Board of Directors, a team of volunteers dedicated to Bridge’s mission and the support of our staff and programs.
We are so grateful for the commitment of volunteers
and organizations across this wonderful city!