What's New?

We're Back after taking a Break for some Personal Business:

Anniversaries - August 2007 is 1st anniversary of the too soon passing of Barb Longstreth Building Bridges founding member. We honor Barb with our mission of looking out for the welfare of our fellow human beings.

This August is also 2nd anniversary of Katrina coming ashore. Even after 2 years, the need for assistance in Plaquemines Parish, LA still exists.

Next Quilting Bee, TBD (Sometime in 2007, we promise!):  Click here for details!

Our Nov 18, 2006 Bee was another success. Approximately 50 Portland quilts have been delivered to needy recipients so far!

Building Bridges Diaper Drive Results:

Thanks to all for a successful community diaper drive.  Over 8000 diapers from Portland were delivered to United Way and Padua Children's Home in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana in October 2006.

 

What is Building Bridges?

“Building Bridges” is a grassroots volunteer effort offering folks in the Portland, Michigan, community the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of a similar-sized community -- Port Sulphur, Louisiana.

Port Sulphur -- a community of 3,100 people -- was one of the first hit when Hurricane Katrina made landfall.  On this website, you will find a letter from the Parish President’s Assistant, which will give you an idea of what that experience was like.  The residents of Port Sulphur have begun the process of rebuilding their town.  This will take many years.

Building Bridges is a concept through which Portland-area individuals, families, church groups and community organizations can get personally involved to help Port Sulphur residents rebuild their lives.  Building Bridges is focused on nurturing a long-term partnership between our two communities:  schools to schools, churches to churches, Boy Scouts to Boy Scouts, arts council to arts council, family to family, etc.

Many people have already donated diapers, linens, cleaning supplies, toiletries, towels and washcloths, and kitchen supplies.  Together with other projects that allow Portland and Port Sulphur residents to interact, occasional community care packages will be “Welcome Home” gifts for Port Sulphur residents, as they return home, mostly to FEMA trailer homes where most Port Sulphur residents will live while they rebuild their community.  A group of Portland residents took a first round of supplies to Port Sulphur-area residents during the second week of January 2006, several returned in April, August, and again on October 2006 to deliver more donations and to lend a helping hand.

Building Bridges is about you, your organizations, and your family doing what you can to partner with your counterparts in Port Sulphur.  If you have any questions about this grassroots effort, if you’d like to be involved, or if you have more person-to-person ideas, please do not hesitate to contact Robert Baldyga at 517-647-7930, rbaldyga@hotmail.com, or the "Make Contact" page of this site.

Click here to read a letter from Port Sulphur.