The Bridge of Storm Lake

About

A Christian non-profit dedicated to connecting, supporting, & empowering Storm Lake youth in vulnerable places of life.

Story

The Bridge is a Christian non-profit in Storm Lake, Iowa, founded by Jay and Anne Dahlhauser in 2010.

Bridge staff lives and works directly in Storm Lake neighborhoods, intentionally connecting with people on a daily basis. We believe great impact will be made not in the big programs, but in the real relationships of people of all cultures and backgrounds sharing life together as children of God.

Our mission is to "care and advocate for Storm Lake youth in vulnerable places of life by meeting them where they are, building a supportive community there, and providing training toward a more hope-filled future."

In 2015, we launched our Cultivate Garden Training project behind our first neighborhood center, Seneca Center. This is garden provides an enriching, practical means of building skills and gaining competency on 4+ acres of Iowa soil. The youth work alongside mentors to plant, tend the garden, weed, harvest, then market and sell produce.

In 2016, we began developing another training opportunity: Endless Sea Coffee. By the generosity of an anonymous donor, we were able to purchase a coffee roaster. This coffee bean roasting business will provide another means of training young people, teaching business, marketing, and basic work skills.

Mission

The Bridge is a Christian non-profit dedicated to caring and advocating for Storm Lake youth in vulnerable places of life by meeting them where they are, building a supportive community there, and providing training toward a more hope-filled future.