Bridging The Gap Fundraising Event This Weekend By Jack Guerino, iBerkshires Staff
05:29PM / Friday, May 13, 2016 | |
 The Salvation Army is holding a Craft Fair and Silent Auction this Saturday to benefit its Bridging the Gap youth program. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Salvation Army will hold a Craft Fair and Silent Auction this Saturday to benefit the Bridging the Gap program.
Program Director Carole Hilderbrand said because of funding cuts, the Salvation Army's after-school programs — for North Adams and Pittsfield teens who have been involved in the court system or who have displayed at-risk behavior — is itself at risk.
The craft fair will run from 10 to 3 at the Salvation Army building at 298 West St. and will feature home made corn chowder and donations from many local businesses.
"We have about 30 tables rented and we have at least 75 donations from different businesses for the auction so I think it's going to be a good time," Hilderbrand said. "All of the proceeds will go to the program Bridging the Gap."
The teen program began in the 1970s and was redeveloped in the 1990s. At-risk youth can learn a variety of life and character development skills — from anger management to building family relationships to dealing with substance abuse — to help them get back on the right path for success.
In the past 20 years, more than 6,600 youth have gone through the program. It runs in a dozen communities with the goals of getting teens through the program, then furthering their education and preventing re-offending.
Hilderbrand said it is a shame that the funding was cut because there is a real need for the program in Berkshire County.
"We have a lot of issues going on right now in Pittsfield," she said. "Be it gang issues, drug addiction, family issues, or low economy, there is a whole cycle that the kids are going through."
Hilderbrand said she usually has 30 to 40 kids per session. She touted that much of the success comes from the structure in the classroom.
"In school, it is like bedlam. Kids have cells phones and they are not used to sitting still," she said. "I don't allow that; I am from the old school ... .They come in around 3 …they know exactly what we are doing. We don't have a clock so there are no clock watchers."
She said the class is designed to be calming and de-stressing because the students have already spent the day in school.
Prior students who have found success in the program come back to speak to the new groups to show them that there is hope.
Hilderbrand said the work is just beginning for these youth after the 12-week course is over. She keeps in touch with each student and makes sure he or she is going to school, getting good grades, and is motivated. She said she urges them to continue their education.
The class is successful, with about a 10 percent recidivism rate, and although it can't save every student, it at least shows them there is hope.
"I like to keep in touch with some of them, some are married, some are in college," she said. "That said, there have been a lot of unsuccessful ones that are in jail. But the kids should know they all have potential and if they do go into the court system that does not define who they are."
Hilderbrand this fundraiser will not supply all the funds needed for the program and that people can donate money or time for future fundraising efforts.
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