Saint Paul's

BRIDGES is a community outreach program of Saint Paul's United Methodist Church.  It is aimed at Junior High aged participants and their parents.  We provide after-school care for these youth who would in many cases go home and stay by themselves because their parents work.  Bridges started three years ago to provide a safe, fun place for 7th and 8th grade students to be after school.  Bridges is a low cost alternative ($20/ Month) for students who need a place to be after their school activities are over.  Bridges provides snacks, study time, gym time as well as adult supervision.

At present we have thirty Papillion Junior High Students enrolled in the program.  We also have five volunteer mentors and nine snack volunteers, who donate snacks once a month.  Our goal is to double the number of mentors and because teenagers are hungry after school; we also need more donations of food and money for snacks.

Some of the ways the BRIDGES Youth benefit are outlined below. This list was in the magazine, School Governance & Leadership:
 

1. Academic achievement (higher grades);
2. A stronger self-image;
3. Positive social development;
4. Reductions in risk-taking behavior;
5. Better school behavior and fewer absences.

On the coldest days this last winter our attendance was at its very highest with additional students that would often wait outside the school for a ride, coming to find warmth and a cup of hot chocolate. One early hope of our oversight committee was that Bridges would be a safety net for the youth of our community.  Over the last three years we have seen several examples of that happening.