Bridging the Gap - Support & Stability Network

04/18/2026

Little Free Libraries of MHC announced that Stone Memorial Christian Church has installed a “Blessing Box” in Collinsville to help provide food to those in need.

The box, located on Virginia Avenue, is stocked with food and snack items for individuals to take as needed, while also allowing others to leave donations for the community.

03/28/2026

03/07/2026

We know we’ve been a little quiet on our page over the last several days. The truth is we’ve been working hard behind the scenes, having conversations, building plans, and looking for ways to strengthen the support we can offer our community.

One of the biggest things on our hearts right now is the group of people often referred to as the ALICE population.

ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These are people who are working, doing their best to stay afloat, and often doing everything they were told they were supposed to do in life, but their income still doesn’t truly cover the cost of living.

Many people assume that if someone is employed, retired, or receiving something like Medicare, then they must be okay. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the reality.

Sometimes ALICE looks like someone who worked their entire life and has finally reached retirement. They may receive Medicare and a fixed income, but that income can be just high enough that they don’t qualify for assistance programs. Then one medication isn’t covered or a prescription copay is too high, and suddenly they are forced to choose between paying for their medicine or keeping the lights on.

Sometimes it’s a working parent who earns too much to qualify for help but still struggles to cover rent, childcare, groceries, and transportation.

Sometimes it’s families who have maintained stability for years but are only one unexpected moment away from falling behind. A sickness, a missed paycheck, a car repair, or a medical bill can quickly turn barely making it into a crisis.

These are the people who often fall right into the gap. They are not considered to be living in poverty, but they are still facing incredibly difficult choices every month.

At Bridging the Gap, our mission is exactly what our name says. We want to help fill those spaces where people are doing everything they can but still need support to stay stable.

We are currently working on building funding, partnerships, and resources that will allow us to serve not only those below the poverty line but also those in the ALICE population who are so often overlooked.

There are far more people in this situation than many realize, and they deserve support before one difficult moment turns into something much bigger.

Thank you for continuing to follow along with us and support the work we’re doing. Every conversation, connection, and opportunity helps us move closer to truly bridging the gap in our community. 🩵🧡💚

03/04/2026

You deserve unwavering support and compassionate guidance every step of the way. At Bridging the Gap - Support & Stability Network, we uplift individuals by crafting a nurturing sanctuary where they can discover a supportive ally, a compassionate listener, and a safe haven to help revolutionize their lives.

03/03/2026

02/28/2026

Yesterday, we shared about our non-medical crisis stabilization and case management services — and how we’re building a bridge for individuals navigating crisis and transition.

Today we want to expand on another piece of our vision.

Bridging the Gap will also offer Community Engagement & Liaison Services for organizations across Southside.

Not every organization can hire a full-time outreach professional — and even those who can often need additional capacity.

We can support by:

• Strengthening referral networks
• Providing warm connection handoffs
• Coordinating cross-agency collaboration
• Assisting with community event planning
• Offering additional outreach support during high-demand seasons
• Providing temporary coverage when engagement staff are unavailable

We don’t replace teams.
We strengthen them.

Strong systems prevent people from falling through the cracks.
Stronger collaboration means better outcomes for our community.

We are building infrastructure.
We are building partnerships.
We are building sustainability.

Southside deserves coordinated, connected support — and we’re here to help make that happen. 🩵🧡💚

02/27/2026

We’ve been building behind the scenes — and we’re excited to share more of what’s coming.

Bridging the Gap will provide non-medical crisis stabilization and case management for individuals facing unexpected emergencies, housing instability, reentry challenges, and overwhelming transitions.

We will also support individuals transitioning out of behavioral health, substance use, or psychiatric crisis stabilization programs who are ready for next steps but need structured, hands-on support to move forward.

We are not a clinical provider.
We are not therapy.
We are the bridge.

And part of being that bridge means taking safety seriously.

If someone referred to us begins to show signs of destabilization, we will communicate with the referring provider to ensure additional support is offered.

If someone not currently receiving clinical care begins to show signs that medical or psychiatric intervention may be needed, we will have those honest conversations, offer referrals and assistance, and when necessary, contact appropriate crisis services to ensure everyone remains safe.

We believe in compassionate accountability.
We believe in coordinated care.
We believe no one should fall through the cracks.

Southside deserves stabilization support that is structured, ethical, and community-connected.

So much good is coming.

02/27/2026

Happy Friday from Bridging the Gap - Support & Stability Network 🩵 🧡 💚