Support Mental Health Today!

Bridgehaven is celebrating Mental Health Awareness this year by raising funds for our Member Café! The café, which opened in 2006 at our First Street location, was established to complement two other snack shops that had been in operation for years prior. Its primary purpose has always been to assist members in need. Members volunteer their time to run the café with guidance from direct care and clinical staff. The café has evolved over the years to support healthier eating habits and encourage social interactions.

Research shows that individuals with severe mental illness often experience isolation and tend to avoid social situations. The café provides a safe environment for members to meet new people and develop new skills. Members are trained in operating a cash register, giving change, practicing food safety, and working as a team.

Through our Bridges to Health Clinic and Wellness Program, we have partnered with an APRN to help determine the best food options to offer. What our members consume is just as important as what they discuss in therapy groups. Currently, we provide protein shakes, convenient, healthy snacks, and items with limited sugar.

The café is a bustling hub at 8:30 AM when the program opens, with the coffee line often backing up beyond the door to the café. For some members, this is the first cup of coffee they have each day. Affordability is crucial for our café; each item is bought in bulk and priced to break even rather than to make a profit. We want to make sure that our member have drinks and snacks available on campus to keep them involved in programming throughout the day rather than having to leave to go a convenience store.

This is why we need your help this month. Our goal is to raise $5,000 to support the café for the next six months and to obtain new supplies, such as healthy snacks, coffee, and creamer. Throughout the month, you will have opportunities to donate money or items for the café. Thank you for your support!