Trussville launches Neighborhood Bridges program

The program is an “opportunity for kindness” and matches student/family needs in the Trussville school system with donors. This program, all done anonymously and online, functions like an Angel Tree.

At each school, counselors collect needs for their school and list them on the Neighborhood Bridges website, neighborhoodbridges.org. Those who want to help should visit neighborhoodbridges.org/communities and select “Trussville” under “Alabama.” People may then enter their email address to sign up for the donor program.

When a need is listed, everyone who has signed up for the program will receive an email with the list of needs. People can then select to buy any request on the list that they are able to fulfill. Each item can only be selected once. Only new items are accepted.

Items may be dropped off at the Trussville City Schools Central Office during school hours or at the Trussville Fire Department on U.S. 11 at any time. Items that may be donated by community members through Neighborhood Bridges include food, clothing, shoes, coats, eye exams, school supplies, school fees, furniture, household and other items identified to help those in need.

At this time, Trussville City Schools is unable to accept monetary donations, but that could be coming soon.

“The Neighborhood Bridges Program offers an opportunity for community members to sign up online to donate their kindness and generosity to students in need,” Trussville City Schools Superintendent Pattie Neill said. “The program is a private and anonymous way to help students through the counselor’s office. We are so blessed in Trussville, and we want to be sure we have systems in place for every student to have what they need to be successful.”

Neighborhood Bridges, which was founded in January 2017, also recently partnered with the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools.

“We are excited to partner with Neighborhood Bridges,” CLAS Executive Director Vic Wilson said. “Alabama school and school system administrators see opportunities to help students every day. This partnership will give our members a tool to invite and engage their entire communities to assist families and students in need.”

Other Alabama communities participating in the Neighborhood Bridges program include Alabaster, Haleyville, Helena, Hoover, Pike Road and Tuscaloosa City. The program is also active in several communities across Ohio.