From the Executive Director

April 2026

“For a long time, I was just a mom trying to survive, but Bridge

of Hope gave me the village I needed to start thriving. They

weren’t just a program; they became the family that stood by

me until the first glimmer of hope turned into a steady, bright

future. Because of your support, I am back on

my feet, and my children finally have the stable, joyful mother they deserve. ”

Real Life. Real Hope. Real Moms.

Willow secured an apartment in February for herself, her elementary-age son, and 2 preschoolers. She was able to stay in the same school district because of assistance from Bridge of Hope with her security deposit. Formerly a stay-at-home mom, she recently got a job and hopes to continue pursuing her B.A. in education in order to teach full-time.

Carol moved out of the hotel and secured an apartment in January for herself and 2 kids. She is working part-time as a housekeeper. Carol also recently obtained a 2nd job to go along with the industrial cleaning she does. She's very excited to be more financially independent. She was very nervous about a brand new setting, but enjoyed her training and meeting the new staff.  She is supporting her teenager, who also works while attending high school, and supporting her elementary-age son, who enjoys sports. 

Camille graduated from Bridge of Hope and finally found an apartment she loves with enough room for both her children. She is also getting ready to send her daughter to college in September with a FULL scholarship.

Rita is getting ready to graduate from Bridge of Hope with a new job and a 40% increase in pay. She diligently pursued the position over months of callbacks and interviews. She helped her teenage daughter find her first job, and they are doing great. She enjoys spending time with her girls and helping with Girl Scouts.

Jane is just about ready to graduate. If anyone knows of a reliable family car for sale, that is the last piece of the puzzle for her. She is gifted in her teaching job and enjoys serving and volunteering at her church.

Ruby is thriving in her apartment and reaping the benefits of lower transportation costs after simplifying her bills. She loves her job as a CNA and is looking into nursing school. 

Amber is getting ready to graduate from Bridge of Hope. She officially has her CompTIA A+ Certificate - a dream, 10 years in the making for herself. She's SUPER happy and she should be. :)

Shelly entered the Bridge of Hope program only in February. She is currently in a hotel with her two children and applying for apartments. She is hoping to stay in the same school district. She works full-time in the restaurant industry and will finish her MA (Medical Assistant) training in early May. After that, she'll look for a job as an MA. *If you know of a position near a bus route in York, please reach out!

Rose has paid off all of her debt since entering Bridge of Hope. She has lived in a 1-bedroom apartment to keep costs down; however, she increased her credit score so much that she has been easily approved for the 2-bedroom apartments she found. 

She is doing well covering all her bills. However, she is looking for a family-friendly job that will allow her to care for her son with special needs.

*Names have been changed to protect the confidentiality of the family.

Staff Updates

This has been a season of change for Bridge of Hope Harrisburg Area. Though change can be hard and scary, change can also be exciting and refreshing.

February, we said 'Good-bye' to Dianna. Dianna joined us in 2022. She began as a Case Manager and later transitioned to our Director of Administrative Services. Dianna will certainly be missed, but we wish her well as she gets the privilege of helping to care for her new grandbabies!

Thank you, Dianna, for your years of service!

Even if you weren’t able to join us for this year’s Bridge of Hope Gala, we wanted to share a glimpse of what made the evening so meaningful.

It was a night centered on hope—hearing firsthand how lives are being transformed when a community comes alongside women and children experiencing homelessness.

One of the most powerful moments was hearing from a current mom in our program, who shared her journey toward stability and the role that relationships, support, and community have played along the way. We were also reminded of the incredible way churches continue to respond—walking alongside families with compassion, consistency, and a commitment to long-term support. We were also grateful to hear from an alumna of the program, whose story reflected not only where she has come from, but the lasting impact of the support she received and the stability she has built.

While the evening has passed, the opportunity to be part of this work continues.

If you would like to join us in building a stronger bridge of support for families in our community, you can still make a gift here:

Every gift helps move a family closer to stability, hope, and a place to call home.

If you missed the opportunity to participate in the Post-Gala survey, please take a minute to do so now. Your feedback is valuable in making our event a success!

Why do monthly supporters matter?

Monthly supporters provide the steady foundation that allows Bridge of Hope to walk faithfully alongside families as they move from homelessness to stability.

• Stability for families who need consistency

Bridge of Hope doesn’t offer one-time help — you walk alongside families over time. Monthly support mirrors that commitment, helping ensure moms and children receive ongoing housing, mentoring, and encouragement, not just short-term relief.

• Predictable funding = better planning

Monthly gifts provide reliable income, allowing staff to plan responsibly, respond to needs quickly, and avoid crisis-based fundraising. That stability directly benefits the families you serve.

• Lower fundraising costs, higher impact

Recurring donations reduce the time and resources spent constantly raising funds. That means more energy and dollars go directly to mission, not administration.

• Deeper donor partnership

Monthly supporters tend to feel more connected and invested. They’re not just donors — they become partners in the mission, more likely to stay engaged, attend events, and advocate for Bridge of Hope in the community.

• Small gifts add up to big change

Monthly giving makes generosity accessible. A manageable gift each month can collectively provide safe housing, stability, and hope for families — proving that consistent support truly transforms lives.

Do you have a passion for helping homeless moms and their children? 

Become a part of our family, as we reach their family!

Neighboring Volunteers

We are searching for dedicated and passionate individuals or groups to become Neighboring Volunteers!

The Bridge of Hope Harrisburg Area Neighborhood is comprised of the Neighboring Family (single mom & her children), an average of 6 to 10 Neighboring Volunteers from Christian Faith Communities in Dauphin, Cumberland, and York Counties, and a Neighborhood Resource Specialist.

You, your family (including children), and/or your Christian Faith Community can join our Neighborhood and provide relationships, tangible supports and social capital to a single mother and her children.

The time commitment involved is regular monthly gatherings with the Neighboring Family for a time of fellowship and support as well as being available to share your talents, social capital and resources with the Neighboring Family as needed. Consider the “neighbors” in your life. Some are regularly engaged in your life and others are there when specific assistance is needed; however, you have them. You know they’re with you to call upon in different seasons of life. The role you have as part of the Bridge of Hope Neighborhood will depend greatly upon your availability, interests, skill set, and passions as well as that of the Neighboring family’s relationship with you.

Visit our website to learn more: https://harrisburg.bridgeofhopeinc.org/get-involved/involve-your-church/

Thank you for standing with us as we strive to end homlessness!

Your prayers and support encourage us as we navigate challenging situations