Healing survivors, strengthening futures

Bridges Against Domestic Violence (often referred to as BADV or Bridges) gives shelter and daily services to individuals in crisis from domestic violence and sexual assault. We allow a 30-day safe place to stay with options to be transported safely elsewhere. Bridges provides community awareness and education. We partner with other organizations to make intimate partner violence, domestic violence, and family violence prevention a priority in the community to heal survivors and strengthen their futures.

Our nonprofit is open to all people within the state of South Dakota. Anyone who calls the shelter in South Dakota with immediate domestic violence and sexual assault in their lives will qualify. We serve an average of 5 people each month. Eighty percent of Bridges clients are still in the housing they acquired while they were in the shelter. Most clients improve their lives with resources provided by BADV, such as resources on retaining or gaining employment, sobriety and addiction referrals, and GED and college enrollments.

Confidentiality is key for the work they do, so you won’t see stories about how their organization helped individuals in the community unless those individuals decide to share their story themselves. Bridges cares for the most vulnerable people in our community. They keep them safe, show them how to start a life without violence, and stand beside them through their choices to heal from their hurt.

Many in the community might be surprised to know that the amount of volunteering that it takes to run Bridges Crisis Line averages 800 hours a month. Community members also might not realize that SD State funding that BADV uses for operations has been compromised at the congressional level. Many funds are no longer available and are on hold although they have been awarded.

The staff and volunteers of Bridges are very proud of the partnerships and collaborations they have built professionally with organizations that share in their mission against domestic violence. They have really expanded their reach over the past year, gaining friends and collaborators in local churches, quilting circles, community helpers and community funders. These collaborators care about the mission and make a difference sharing the skills they are blessed with to benefit BADV.

We are hopeful that one day people will talk about domestic violence and sexual assault—and organizations like Bridges that support those experiencing it—without stigma. Survivors being able to break free of their unhealthy situations and prosper deserve to be viewed as strong. Positive attitudes, where we see survivors not solely as a person who is hurt but as a person who is resilient and able to heal and thrive, are so important.

Bridges welcomes all donations of talent, treasure, and testimony. This year, if you can only give one, they ask you to consider a monetary donation. Right now, BADV is feeling the effects of freezes and backlogs at SDDPS-Victim Services—as are all state-funded domestic violence and sexual assault agencies. Bridges needs financial stability while waiting for the reimbursement processes to happen-$3,000 to $5,000 would keep them stable for a month. Donations will go to everyday operating expenses needed to keep the shelter open, including access to their one full-time advocate and funds to continue providing emergency financial services for clients.

Please mail donations to: Bridges Against Domestic Violence, PO Box 2, Mobridge, SD 57601