The Newark Bridge Collective operates with full transparency. Everything below outlines who we serve, how we're funded, how to apply for assistance, and what we're building toward. Nothing is hidden. This handbook belongs to the community.
For the complete formal document including governance policies, triage procedures, and conflict of interest guidelines β download the full handbook below.Β
Who We Serve
The Newark Bridge Collective is open to anyone living in Newark and the greater Licking County area facing a moment of financial hardship. There is no application fee, no membership requirement, and no contribution history needed to receive support.
We ask only that applicants be current residents of Licking County. That is the only eligibility requirement.
"You never have to explain more than you're comfortable sharing. You only have to reach out."
How We Are Funded
The Newark Bridge Collective is supported entirely by the generosity of our community. We do not require membership dues or contributions from those we serve. Our funding comes from:
π€ Voluntary donations from community members, neighbors, and supporters
π Grants from local foundations, civic organizations, and mutual aid networks
πͺ Community fundraisers organized by the Collective or by community partners
π In-kind contributions of goods, services, or time
No one's contribution is too small, and no one is turned away for an inability to give. If you benefit from the Collective and later want to contribute, that door is always open β but it is never required.
Applying for Assistance
Applying for assistance should feel as easy as reaching out to a neighbor. Here is how it works:
Contact the Stewardship Committee by email at newarkbridgecollective@proton.me
Share only what you are comfortable sharing β no required form, no documentation needed to begin
We will respond within 24 hours and guide you through any next steps
If approved, assistance is provided discreetly
Assistance may include rent shortfalls, utility shutoff prevention, emergency food or household needs, and connection to local resources. If your situation isn't listed β reach out anyway. We will always try to help.
Our Privacy Guarantee
The privacy of every person who reaches out to the Newark Bridge Collective is absolute.
β Contributors will never know who received assistance
β Applicants will never know who contributed
β Names and situations of all applicants are strictly confidential
β The only information shared publicly is aggregate fund data, shared quarterly
Committee members are individually bound to this commitment. Any breach of privacy is grounds for immediate removal from the committee.
The Neighbor Exchange β Our Vision
The Newark Bridge Collective begins with financial mutual aid β but our longer vision is broader than money.
The Neighbor Exchange is what comes next: a community-run network for sharing tools, skills, services, and time among Newark residents. Rather than renting from a corporate chain, borrow from a neighbor. Rather than buying a tool you'll use once, find someone on the block who already has it.
π§ Tool library β borrow instead of buy
π‘ Skills directory β share what you know
β± Time bank β an hour given for an hour received
π Local marketplace β neighbors first, corporations last
This is not operational yet β it is a named intention and a direction we are consciously building toward. Its structure will be decided together with the community.
Questions about anything in this handbook?
newarkbridgecollective@proton.me