Boaz, Alabama comes together to launch Gateway for Kindness
The Boaz Area Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Boaz City Schools and the greater Boaz community to deliver an ongoing campaign for kindness to students and families in our area. Spurred by the Boaz Chamber Ambassadors, this initiative brought together key stakeholders on January 14, 2020 to decide if and when this kindness platform should be brought to Boaz.
Attending this ground-breaking meeting were: Amanda Duckett (BIS Counselor), Greg Bishop (Neighborhood Bridges - Hoover), Boaz Mayor David Dyar, Brett Johnson (Chamber Ambassador), Will Penton (Chamber Board/PIRATE Foundation), Chad Cofield (Boaz School Board), Jill Johnson (Chamber Executive), Gary Chumley (Chamber Ambassador), Kelly Adams (Chamber Ambassador/PIRATE Foundation), Dr. Allen Johnson (BCSS Director of Student Services), Margaret Mastin (BCSS Federal Programs), Chelsey Barker (BES Counselor), and Diane Patterson (BCSS Homeless Liaison/not pictured).
The result? Neighborhood Bridges, a non-profit charity will be launching its Gateway for Kindness to serve the Boaz City Schools community in Boaz, Alabama! A 501(c)(3) organization, Neighborhood Bridges has driven direct support and care to more than 35,175 children and families in just 3 years in 23 Alabama and Ohio communities.
Neighborhood Bridges Boaz will be led by volunteer Area Directors Brett Johnson and Jill Johnson (no relation), who are both active in the Boaz community. School district counselors and advocates will post needs on behalf of students and families. The team will be supported by the Boaz Chamber Ambassadors and advised by the Boaz Bridges Steering Committee, which will meet quarterly to oversee the ongoing campaign for kindness.
THANK YOU to Peoples Independent Bank for being the very first Founding Sponsor of Neighborhood Bridges Boaz!
Boaz Bridges will work with key stakeholders in the community to engage all resources to help drive direct support and care to our neighbors in need. Items that may be included are – food, clothing, shoes, coats, eye exams, school supplies, school fees, furniture, household items, and monetary donations as identified to help those in need.
Community members and businesses are encouraged to subscribe to Boaz Bridges by visiting our website at: www.neighborhoodbridges.org/communty/boaz-al. There is no cost to subscribe and then residents are notified of specific ways they can help. Residents can also follow along on Twitter at @BoazBridges or on Instagram @nbboaz. Student and family needs will begin being posted after March 16, 2020 -- the official Boaz Bridges launch date!
Rick Bannister, CEO of Neighborhood Bridges stated, “We are humbled and excited to include Boaz in our Gateway for Kindness. Our mission is to engage communities to address the rapid growth of poverty in suburban communities. The collaborative relationship between the chamber, city and schools in Boaz is yet another example to demonstrate that kindness truly has no boundaries and we look forward to offering our support to the Boaz community. We appreciate and are excited for the leadership of the Boaz Chamber of Commerce. This is an exciting and first of its kind model and we are confident the residents and businesses of Boaz will enjoy this Campaign for Kindness. Together, we will do great things!”
For more information about Boaz Bridges residents are encouraged to send questions to [email protected].