By Beth Tulloch
It is with mixed emotions and eternal gratitude for her service that we announce the retirement of Lois Bhatt, our Executive Director since January 2004. Lois has led Bridges’ outreach program for the homeless for the last fourteen plus years. She has had ultimate responsibility for the oversight of the 2600 volunteers every year that help Bridges to deliver food, clothing and necessities to people living on the street in New York City, Newark, Irvington, and Summit, New Jersey. In one of the crowning achievements during her tenure, Lois organized the Coalition of Services in Newark, a mobile team of services providers, to provide ancillary services to our street friends, including medical testing, physical and mental health services, benefits enrollment, and housing information. The success of that coalition led Bridges in March 2014, again under Lois’ direction, to open a home base in Newark known as Project Connect, whose dedicated staff provides case management services to people experiencing homelessness and links them to social and health services.
As Executive Director, Lois has worn many hats, including fundraiser, grant writer, event planner, program developer, and overall CEO and COO of everything Bridges, all with gentleness and grace. She retired on May 31, 2018.
We likewise regretfully announce the retirement of our Deputy Executive Director, Bethany Tulloch. Beth has been part of Bridges for a long time, serving as a Board member from 2009 to 2014, Board Secretary from 2010 to 2012, Board Chair from 2012 to 2013 and, for the last four years, as our Deputy Executive Director. She has worked side by side with Lois, contributing to the growth of the services and connections that Bridges provides to our street friends. It has been a wonderful opportunity to work with such a professional and dedicated individual.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, and all friends of Bridges, we wish Lois and Beth all the best. Please join us on June 5, 2018, for our Annual Board Meeting at the Summit First Aid Squad at 7 p.m., where directly following you will have a chance to meet Richard and to chat with Lois and Beth about their future plans.
Founded in 1988, Bridges reaches out to the homeless in New York City, Newark, Irvington, and Summit, New Jersey every week. Over 2000 volunteers each year help deliver 65,000 meals, seasonal clothing, and necessities without question and with genuine respect. Our mission is to connect the housed and homeless to establish relationships that lead to greater acceptance and understanding, social and economic growth, and well-being.
