Program Spotlight: Crossing the Bridge
“I remember my college move-in day being a major hassle. The anxiety of moving away from home for the first time wasn't at all alleviated by the fact that there were still tons of basic living necessities I needed to go out and buy before settling in. These purchases ended up eating into all my remaining ABFK sponsorship funds (and then some). I definitely think a college transition 'care package' would have saved me a lot of undue stress, time, and energy-- which, at such a major turning point in my life, was already spread quite thin.” - Joel Castro
As you may know, 100% of our students are accepted into 4-year Universities, with 97% of them attending college ( the other 3% attending trade school). A large bulk of our graduating students go off to attend college far from home and live on campus. All of our students are first-generation Americans, and more often than not, are the first in their families to attend college. Because of this, they, and their families, are often unsure of what to buy when going off to live in their dorms. This causes our students to experience even more stress and uncertainty in an already stressful time in their lives.
On top of this, we have noticed our senior students using large percentages of their grant money to buy dorm room essentials. A Bridge for Kids is thrilled to announce the launch of a new program, to help our students transition into college and help alleviate some of that stress. Introducing to you: Crossing the Bridge.
Crossing the Bridge is going to be offered to all of our graduating students to help them with their transition to campus. Upon graduating, our final gift to our students is going to be an option between a gift card (for those who will not be living on campus), and a dorm room essentials kit. These kits will be customizable to the students, where they can pick between several colors of bedsheets, linens, towels, comforters, and more. Below is the list of items we will be providing to our graduates:
Comforter, Bed Sheet Set, Towel Set, Pillow, Shower Caddy, Under-bed Storage, Hangers, Laundry Sack, Box Fan, Desk Lamp, Power Strip, and Packing List!
We are so proud of all of our students, and we want them to remember that even though their sponsorship has ended, we will still always be there for them. This dorm room essentials care package is our version of a graduation gift! We look forward to watching our students confidently dive head-first into their next chapter, where they will do great things and soar to new heights.
Quotes from our students:
“Bedding, linens, toiletries, a clothes hamper, storage racks, and more would have been great! Moving out of home is a big change as a student mostly moves hundreds of miles away from home. This care package would have saved both my parents and me a big headache. Mostly my mother, if I could have told her there is a care package waiting for me I could have saved. Finally, the transition, needing to drive 5 hours with a lot of suitcases and backpacks to bring everything was a hassle, having it shipped there would have been really nice.”
- Leonardo Maya Ramos
“I think putting together a care package for graduating seniors is an amazing idea! Many first-generation students like myself have aspirations to attend colleges that may be far from home. However, it can be financially straining when considering dorms and other living expenses. I am currently a first-year nursing major at UC Irvine and allocated a portion of my grant/scholarship to purchase items for my dorm. With the help of A Bridge for Kids, I was able to purchase dorm essentials like bedding, clothing hangers, and laundry bags. If I had received a care package, I would’ve been able to use the remaining balance of my scholarship on books and supplies I needed during my transition to college instead of dorm essentials. I personally believe that the care package would alleviate the financial burdens students transitioning into college may experience.”
- Claire Tran
“Having been in college for several months, I know how beneficial a care package would have been at the start of the school year. As the academic quarter goes by, there are more and more times when I realize I need more blankets or storage containers, but with the care package, I would have received more of these necessities. Additionally, as someone who had moved a few hours away from home, I would have appreciated having my belongings delivered earlier to my dorm. When I was driving up to college there were many things I had to leave at home because I did not have the space for them in my car. Also, with how hectic move-in day was at my university, I would have appreciated having my stuff in my dorm early so that all my items were safe and accounted for. Most notably though, this care package would have eased the financial burden on my family. As I was buying all the things I would need for college, I quickly realized how expensive it would be and knew that I needed to shorten my list even if it meant cutting out some important items. Ultimately, I know this care package would have made my transition to college a lot smoother, and I would have felt more prepared as I started my first year at university.”
- Meliya Russom
“For many people, as it was for me, making the transition to college is a really significant step. It can quickly pile up, especially if you're living in a dorm and have additional costs to cover. From the beginning of our semester, these "care packages" would have been incredibly helpful. It would have been a huge assistance to me since I could have used the money I did spend on the supplies you guys wish to provide us to buy other things that would be useful. However, even if the "care package" is given to us a little later than planned, it will still be useful. I value everything you give us and do for us. You guys make sure to give us the supplies that we'll need in order for us to feel secure and successful. You guys are great individuals. Keep doing what you're doing, you guys. Even if it's only a little help, you're impacting the lives of many people. Every kind deed is greatly valued.”
- Kassandra Tizoc
“If I were to have received the care package before my freshman year at SDSU, it would've been greatly beneficial. Between getting accustomed to the more independent lifestyle and trying to settle in on campus, a care package would have helped alleviate not only stress but also the tight financial situation I and many other freshmen face. It would have saved me a lot of money, as I spent a few hundred dollars on basic necessities alone within my first month of university. During such a drastic transition, a care package would have been the exact assistance I needed.”
- Yons Said