1 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend. 2 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: Each week right here, we come together and talk about 3 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:16,960 Speaker 1: all the topics important to you and the place where 4 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:19,080 Speaker 1: you live. Good to be back with you this week. 5 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:22,120 Speaker 1: I'm Nicole Davis. The weather here in New England has 6 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: been downright brutal this winter. For the first time in 7 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 1: many years. We've already had a couple feet of snow 8 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: over most of the state. More storms are on the way. 9 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 1: Temperatures have often been below zero. This is really not 10 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 1: a good time to be without a warm and safe 11 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:39,600 Speaker 1: place to stay. Unfortunately, young people around the Commonwealth often 12 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: feel it's safer for them to brave those elements and 13 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 1: be home with their families, significant others, or anywhere else 14 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:47,520 Speaker 1: they might be staying. That is where Bridge Over Troubled 15 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:51,199 Speaker 1: Water steps into help. We've had executive director Elizabeth Jackson 16 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: on before talking about their resources for at risk, homeless 17 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 1: and runaway young people. She's back here on the show 18 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 1: this week, and Elizabeth, it is really good to have you. Bet. 19 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 1: Before we get into the core of what we're talking 20 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 1: about today, give us a quick rundown about your work. 21 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 2: Ringeovia Tova Waters is a multi Service youth agency that 22 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,199 Speaker 2: works with homeless and at risk youth. 23 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:11,839 Speaker 3: We work with young people. 24 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 2: We see last year we saw over two thousand, four 25 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 2: hundred young people that come to different services Bridge. So 26 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 2: I always say with a university of life skills for 27 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:24,440 Speaker 2: young people, because we have counseling, we have day program, 28 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 2: we have housing, medical education, and so we have an 29 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 2: in depth of services for our young people self, so 30 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 2: abuse counseling and so forth. And so we want our 31 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:37,040 Speaker 2: young people to be successful in the long run and 32 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 2: provide all those intensive services now. And it's all a 33 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:41,960 Speaker 2: card so they don't have to use all of them. 34 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 2: They can use whichever one is specific for their needs. 35 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:47,560 Speaker 2: It's an individual plan. We also work with young people 36 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 2: under the age of eighteen, so we have a basic 37 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 2: center for runaway homeless youth. So we're part of the 38 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 2: Runaway National Hotline. So we provide a continuous services for 39 00:01:57,320 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 2: our young people to get them to a different path. 40 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 1: This time of year especially, I mean if it's the 41 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 1: summertime and you're somebody who is unhoused, it's a little 42 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: bit easier. It's certainly not safe, don't get me wrong, 43 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 1: but it's a little easier to be outside in summer weather. 44 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 1: In the wintertime, especially the cold we've had lately. What 45 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:17,119 Speaker 1: are you seeing happening on the streets right now? 46 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 3: It's you know, a bridge. 47 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 2: We have f and flows of like how young people 48 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:23,799 Speaker 2: uses our programs. 49 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 3: But after. 50 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 2: Halloween, from November all the way like March or April 51 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 2: is the toughest part of our programmatic for a couple 52 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:37,799 Speaker 2: of reasons. As you say, when it's warmer, people hang out, 53 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 2: but also during the holidays, people go home, they celebrate 54 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 2: with families, everybody's cheering, there's buying gifts, and so the 55 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 2: presence starts to set in. Young people are realizing they 56 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:49,080 Speaker 2: really can't go back home, or they don't have a 57 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 2: home to go to, or they really burn that bridge, 58 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 2: that it's going to take more time, and then it's 59 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 2: like a frozen everything's for everything outside is cold. They 60 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 2: can't even stay outside for too long to smoke cigarette, 61 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 2: the things that relieve their stress. They can't go to 62 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 2: the movie theater, or the trains are not working or 63 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 2: something's happening. So it adds a whole different layer to 64 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 2: their depression and anxiety. 65 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 3: And it's so. 66 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 2: Cold out and then when they don't have the right boots, 67 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 2: when they don't have the right socks, when they don't 68 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 2: have the right gear to be warm, and now they're 69 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 2: just in a space where they can't really express those things. 70 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 2: It makes it hard for them. So for us, it's 71 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 2: the most challenging times and we try to make these 72 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,839 Speaker 2: times the best as we can. We work very hard 73 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 2: for no disruption, So if the trains is not working, 74 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 2: we make sure we send our staff and uber back 75 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 2: and forth so they can get here. So they can 76 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 2: be here because we have, you know, around three hundred 77 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 2: young people that are living with us and throughout a 78 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 2: lot of different programs, So we have to make sure 79 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 2: that heat's working. The Wi fi has to work with 80 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 2: everybody's on it, and they have no places to go. 81 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 2: We have to have activities. There's a lot that goes in. 82 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 2: I call it a production, like the whole production that 83 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 2: has to happen to keep not only staff safe and warm, 84 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 2: but also are young people that don't have anywhere to go. 85 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 1: It is kind of like you're conducting this big orchestra 86 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 1: of all these different moving parts and noises and things 87 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: going on. And you know, with young people, I think 88 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 1: that there's this impression of runaway youth and young people 89 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 1: who are unhoused as lazy or not working or just 90 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: for whatever reason not able to get it together. Well, 91 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:24,560 Speaker 1: that may be the case for a few, that is 92 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:26,479 Speaker 1: really not the way it is for the vast majority. 93 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 2: Correct, yes, correct, I would say the national According nationally 94 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 2: to the chapin Hall Voices you've count survey, one in 95 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 2: ten young adults ages eighteen to twenty five will experience. 96 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 3: One night of homelessness. 97 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 2: One in thirty adolescents ages thirteen to seventeen were experienced 98 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 2: one night of homelessness, and the course of a year, 99 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 2: that data indicates that homelessness can be just as pervasive 100 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:54,280 Speaker 2: in the rural and the urban areas in Boston. If 101 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:57,359 Speaker 2: you translate that data, that will mean around eleven thousand 102 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 2: young people and young adults in Greater Boston that experiences 103 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 2: one night of homelessness. So just picture it this way. 104 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 2: In a classroom, one and thirty young people in our classroom. 105 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 2: That can be one person, one young person in the 106 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 2: football team, one in a basketball team, they can be 107 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 2: one in the soccer team. They are young people all 108 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 2: over in school doing stuff and it's hard and when 109 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:22,119 Speaker 2: you don't have the support system, even with our own 110 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 2: who's at home with parents and struggling. Still, it's hard. 111 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 2: So imagine somebody that doesn't have the support, that doesn't 112 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 2: have the foundation or the bridge to get them for 113 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 2: one into another, so you've Homelessness doesn't look like someone 114 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 2: pushing a cart on the street or having a bunch 115 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:42,080 Speaker 2: of bags. These are young people bagging your groceries. They're working, 116 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 2: they're serving coffee or your favorite baristas. They're on the 117 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 2: team next to you, sitting and you will not even know. 118 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 2: So Bridge always really wants to take that that view that, oh, 119 00:05:56,000 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 2: these are they're lazy, they're using drugs. Let me tell you, 120 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 2: I would be using a lot if I had to 121 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 2: be out there for more walking from South Station to 122 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 2: my office. 123 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 3: I don't want to do it. It's cold, it's really cool. 124 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:12,840 Speaker 2: It breaks your skin, and so I need to be 125 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:15,599 Speaker 2: very numb to be dealing with that. So that's not 126 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 2: our first interaction with our young people. We understand that 127 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 2: it's cold, and we understand that it takes a while 128 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 2: for us to really support them to what their trauma 129 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 2: is going to. 130 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: And not to mention if you are a young person 131 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 1: who would rather be outside than at your home, or 132 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 1: with your parents. That is a decision you have likely 133 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 1: made for your safety. And I want to make it 134 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: clear that a lot of young people are not homeless 135 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 1: because they want to just do their own thing. It's 136 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 1: a safety measure, it's a safety concern for them. 137 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, seventy six percent of the young people we serve 138 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 2: last year under the age of twenty one. 139 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 3: That's young. They didn't choose to be out there. 140 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:58,360 Speaker 2: There are many reasons individually why they're out there, and 141 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 2: seventy nine percent of them from the City of Boston. 142 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 2: They're here right and the wrap around service. It's difficult 143 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:07,680 Speaker 2: time for young people to be out there and it's 144 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 2: not something they choose. They they will probably be couch 145 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 2: surfing or staying at a friend's house and then that 146 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 2: doesn't last for long or you know. I always say 147 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 2: to parents, if you have this friend that's always staying 148 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:21,239 Speaker 2: over your house, your son's friend or a daughter's friend, 149 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 2: you should ask some questions because they don't probably don't 150 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 2: have a place to go. These young people are working, 151 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:29,800 Speaker 2: they're trying to get better, and they'd say, I'm eighteen, 152 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 2: I think I can do this by myself. 153 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, then live where I'm staying and being hurt. 154 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 2: They're now eating, they're not understanding that it is cold 155 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 2: out and even those things, it is better for them 156 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 2: to be out. And that is a hard decision for 157 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 2: a young person to make, and it's not something to 158 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 2: take lightly either. 159 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 1: No, it's not so when people are when you interact 160 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 1: with these young people, tell me a little bit about 161 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:57,480 Speaker 1: what you can do for them and what kind of services. 162 00:07:57,520 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 1: You said, you've got all sorts of wrap around services. 163 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 1: What are the ones that people are leaning on most 164 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 1: right now? 165 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 2: You know, we have a lot of activities we call 166 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 2: them we have increased activities because it's so cold out 167 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:12,280 Speaker 2: they can't go out, and how many movies can you watch? 168 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 1: And a periods at. 169 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 2: That day that we do have a lot of like 170 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 2: life skill activities where they're learning balance in check books, 171 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 2: or they're learning arts and craft, they're learning how to cook, 172 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:29,920 Speaker 2: they're learning how to make flowers, all these great activities 173 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 2: to have them use their their brains and their hands 174 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 2: to create something. It's always great here. And then we 175 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 2: also have psychotherapy groups where young people can talk about, 176 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 2: you know, their anxiety, their anger, how to deal with 177 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 2: the boss, how to deal with the situation they end, 178 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 2: but in a fun setting that they've created that they 179 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 2: feel safe. 180 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 3: We do yoga. 181 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 2: It's like and while they're doing yoga and talking about 182 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 2: the upper dog or little dog or whatever they talk about, 183 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 2: but talked to them about in their language and their 184 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:00,200 Speaker 2: musical what does it means to distress? Finding another the 185 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 2: way to be stress they're being in the streets or then. 186 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 3: Either drinking or using what they need to. 187 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 2: Don themselves is really teaching them those activities and those 188 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 2: go on all day and we do it if for 189 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 2: only one person shows up, a twenty young people show 190 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 2: up and they really enjoy it. And we have a 191 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 2: lot of groups of young people for the winter times. 192 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 2: We went from twelve beds to over thirty four beds 193 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 2: this year with a wait list of sixty young people 194 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 2: at night. Wow. And that is a constant challenge of 195 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 2: trying to figure out not just young people that are 196 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:36,439 Speaker 2: staying with us, but those sixty that don't have a place, 197 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 2: and how to find them a place for one night 198 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 2: and come here during the days, stay here, be part 199 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 2: of the activities and the groups, and then wherever we 200 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:46,720 Speaker 2: found that you are safe in that you could stay 201 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:48,480 Speaker 2: there for one night and really there's a lot of 202 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 2: coordination behind that as well. 203 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:52,120 Speaker 1: I'm sure you've got to have quite the team behind you. 204 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:54,199 Speaker 1: I mean, you yourself are a force of nature, but 205 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 1: you've got to have quite the team behind you to 206 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:56,600 Speaker 1: get all this done. 207 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 3: I have to say my team is really amazing. 208 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:02,560 Speaker 2: I say it to them a lot, and you know, 209 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:06,240 Speaker 2: it's pretty amazing for them to just constantly, you know, 210 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:09,319 Speaker 2: young people leave their coats behind and so we the 211 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 2: next day they come in and what swater, what happened 212 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 2: to your cot? Here's another coat, here's another pair of gloves, 213 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:15,439 Speaker 2: here's another hat. 214 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:17,839 Speaker 3: If it's not attached to their head, take a look. 215 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 2: It's just so we just there. My team is just excited. 216 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:26,080 Speaker 2: They come up with different ideas, how to make it fun. 217 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 2: Let's try this, and I'm like, nobody's gonna do painting 218 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:31,439 Speaker 2: next to you know, there's twenty people doing painting. I was, 219 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:33,440 Speaker 2: and then it goes what I know, So they make 220 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 2: it fun for young people. So and they they really 221 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:41,720 Speaker 2: into the food, adding different cultures, the super Bowl, let's 222 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 2: watch it, let's popcorn, and just let's create a movie 223 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 2: theater inside. They're so creative and I'm so grateful for them. 224 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 2: And they also understand when they see a young person 225 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 2: they haven't asked for a pair of boots and they're 226 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 2: walking around and sneakers, to just be like we're giving 227 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 2: out books today and not send them calling that person 228 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 2: by themselves because it's the only one, and really giving 229 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 2: the boots and really given out gloves. And we go 230 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 2: through a lot of that gloves, boots and hats and stuff, 231 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:11,560 Speaker 2: and not because our young people want to throw them 232 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:14,240 Speaker 2: away or anything, but just do it, just like every 233 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 2: young person does. 234 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:17,200 Speaker 1: We all lose stuff. I think I lost a glove 235 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:19,720 Speaker 1: two days ago. I mean it's the season, you're shoveling, 236 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 1: you're moving around, your stuff gets lost. And that's going 237 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:25,400 Speaker 1: to be my next question for you. What do you 238 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 1: need the most right now? 239 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 2: Patience people to understand, I wish they have more beds 240 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:35,560 Speaker 2: for the young people on our wait list, but those 241 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 2: are alwaish. 242 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:37,640 Speaker 3: What do I need right now? 243 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 2: Coats, especially in larger sizes will be great. 244 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 3: We would need clubs. Oh my god, we go to gloves. 245 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 3: We just go through gloves. 246 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 2: Food are young people like to eat a lot, and 247 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:54,120 Speaker 2: you know we cook a lot. So if anyone is 248 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 2: interested in putting, we want our young people to like 249 00:11:57,400 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 2: I said, with the University of Life skills, So we 250 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:00,959 Speaker 2: don't want to just buy a meal for them with 251 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:04,440 Speaker 2: here's a menu or here's a directions of how to 252 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:06,960 Speaker 2: make a meal of like a ten dollar meal. So 253 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 2: really creating those menus for our young people so then 254 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:12,440 Speaker 2: when downtime and it's blizzard out, they having a whole 255 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:15,560 Speaker 2: cook fest in here and providing those things for them. 256 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:16,559 Speaker 3: So that would be great. 257 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 2: You know, it's an extra sauce because now if we 258 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:21,120 Speaker 2: don't have it, the staff has to go and try 259 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 2: to get in there's a blizzard outside. So really those 260 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:27,320 Speaker 2: care packages are great for our young people to have 261 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 2: gift cards. They like to when they have a free 262 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:33,080 Speaker 2: time and they're strong, they still want to go to 263 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 2: the CBS. So go something that they can buy something 264 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 2: that they like. 265 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 3: Get a coffee is always good, and a. 266 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 2: Cup of coffees. You know, they get tired of our coffee. 267 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 2: I know, I've heard many times that our kool aid 268 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 2: is the best kool Aid. They call it the bridge 269 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:46,559 Speaker 2: juice is the best juice ever. 270 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:48,320 Speaker 3: For the sugar. But they love it. 271 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 2: And so those are the kinds of things that provides 272 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:55,199 Speaker 2: their daily and not just for the young people before 273 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:57,760 Speaker 2: our staff their way, so and you can go into 274 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:00,840 Speaker 2: our website too. There's different opportunity in our website that 275 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 2: gives you different ideas of what they need and so forth. 276 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 2: But we lose coats here like it's candy well. 277 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 1: And it's not getting warmer anytime soon, according to the groundhog, 278 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 1: at least from what it said the other day. So 279 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:14,560 Speaker 1: if I'm gonna believe a rodent on this, then yes, 280 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:17,079 Speaker 1: it's not quite again any warmer for at least a 281 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 1: few more weeks. So give us your website, social media, 282 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:23,320 Speaker 1: how people can donate, how people can get a hold 283 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:24,479 Speaker 1: of you and help. 284 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:30,079 Speaker 2: Bridge over troublewaters dot Org is our website. We also 285 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:33,520 Speaker 2: have Instagram, TikTok and all that stuff, but I don't 286 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:35,080 Speaker 2: know them from the top of my head. But if 287 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:38,280 Speaker 2: you go to our website, you're definitely under volunteering. We'll 288 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:41,920 Speaker 2: have all the information on how to either donate to Bridge, 289 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 2: do any volunteer work, or also provide any other services 290 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 2: or needs that we need for our young people. And 291 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:52,960 Speaker 2: we just keep us in your prayers. It's winter, Groundhouse 292 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 2: says another six eight weeks. That means twelve weeks for us, 293 00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 2: we're making it. And so please definitely thank you for 294 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 2: just putting a light on I young people, because they're 295 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:08,000 Speaker 2: young and it's stress for us, even stressful for me 296 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 2: to be stuck in some of us who's like, oh, yes, 297 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:11,599 Speaker 2: no day, we don't have to go to work and 298 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:16,080 Speaker 2: you enjoy where others is like, well, they're still have 299 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:19,680 Speaker 2: to go to work because of their jobs, and they 300 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:22,440 Speaker 2: don't have a place sometimes to just stay home all then, 301 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:24,480 Speaker 2: and that's what we become for them, and so we 302 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 2: want to make it as nice as possible for them here. 303 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:28,400 Speaker 1: Well, I'm glad you're there for them, and Elizabeth, thank 304 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 1: you for all the work you do. Thank your team 305 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 1: for all the work they do. And again, bridge over 306 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 1: Troubledwaters dot Org. Let's see if we can get you 307 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:38,240 Speaker 1: more gloves as they keep flying out the door. And 308 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 1: have a safe and healthy rest of your winter season. 309 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 3: Thank you you too. 310 00:14:43,280 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 1: Have a safe and healthy weekend. Please join us again 311 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 1: next week for another edition of the show. I'm Nicole 312 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 1: Davis from WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio.