(Brainerd, MN) — March 4, 2024 — Local charity The Bridge on 7th Shelter has been awarded a $5,000 grant from Country Inn & Suites in Baxter, MN as a recipient of this year’s Your Community, Your Choice Program from Choice Hotels International. This program, which began in 2019, recognizes and empowers local hotel owners to make a positive difference in their communities. As a winner of this year’s program, Bridge on 7th Shelter will use the funds to fund their operations.
Country Inn & Suites in Baxter, owned by IGO Legacy Hotel Group, are supporters of their local community in many ways. Over the years they have achieved many fundraising projects for local charities, they honor our veterans by placing flags at their local cemetery, and they host an annual Blood Drive annually.
“The Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Baxter, Minnesota believes that taking care of people is our number one priority and it is a privilege to help support our local community.” –Karen Rettke, General Manager
The check presentation to Bridge on 7th Shelter representative took place on February 24, 2024, and presented to Manager, Bill Wear. Spokesperson, Tedi Russel, commented “We are honored to receive this generous donation. We plan to use this grant money to pay ongoing overhead costs, such as rent, utilities, coffee, snacks, and cleaning supplies. We feel fortunate to have the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson in Baxter, Minnesota to support us.”
The Bridge on 7th
The Bridge on 7th is a low-barrier warming shelter providing a safe place to sleep for individuals 18+ who are experiencing homelessness in the Brainerd Lakes Area.
Bridges of Hope, in partnership with law enforcement, Crow Wing County, nonprofit organizations, church partners, and community members recognized the need for a safe place for homeless adults to sleep in our community. This group has come together in a collaborative effort to address homelessness by providing a low-barrier overnight shelter that offers a safe place for individuals to rest for the night.
We opened our doors on Friday, December 3, 2021.Since that first snowy night we have served 277 unique individuals and offered 4,936 nights of shelter from the cold Minnesota winter.
