Who we are
Embracing vulnerable adults in Kingston
We are a local, non-denominational Christian charity founded in the spring of 2021.
Our office and drop-in centre are at Kingston Alliance Church.
We partner with the church, and yet we remain autonomous.
Who we are
We are an essential group of Kingstonians who team together to provide a safe place for our Bridges friends, the individuals we care for and support.
Our primary focus is to advance the Christian faith while offering support to individuals living with physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as those who have mental health challenges.
We also care for those on the margins because of relational poverty, addictions, food insecurity or lack of housing.
We embrace the Great Commission by providing both truth and love as we journey alongside those facing these challenging life circumstances.
Our story
- 2021
- Bridges - Kingston is co-founded on April 16.
- 2022
- Our Place, our drop-in centre, opens on August 8.
- 2024
- We receive registered charity status, effective January 1.
What we do
Our purpose is to bridge the gaps the vulnerable experience by providing practical relational care, responding to their physical, social and spiritual needs.
Our Place: our drop-in centre
Welcome to Our Place. We hope it will be your place soon.
Open Mondays and Thursdays, 6–8 pm, 52 weeks a year, including holidays. We serve hot and cold drinks, snacks and treats. Some friends colour, some do crafts, some play cards and other games, often with our ministry team. We listen to each other, love our neighbours, laugh and have fun.
Our Place is for people living with mental illness, people living with physical or developmental disabilities, people who experience relational poverty, and anyone who needs a place to stay dry or warm up. It is also an evening out, or an evening in, for those without housing.
During Our Place, our missions and ministry team often learns where our friends are finding life challenging, and then we team together to help in a practical way.
Practical help
- Social advocacy, in areas where someone is finding life challenging.
- Monthly food bank support, working with the local food bank to coordinate and deliver their provisions.
- A Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, offered each year in March and April so that the vulnerable people we serve receive their benefits.
- Support and transportation to appointments.
- Help connecting with other supports across the city.
Spiritual support
- Throughout the year we offer Essential Foundations of Faith, a 14-week course in a safe, small-group setting.
- We offer our graduates an ongoing weekly life group.
- Each week we offer individual discipleship, mentoring and pastoral care appointments.
How we keep people safe
Our staff and volunteers are well-trained and committed to protecting the vulnerable.
We practice high-standards of abuse prevention and protection, and every volunteer completes an application, is interviewed, screened and trained.
Want to be part of it?
We would love to hear from you, whether you want to serve, pray or give.