Bridge of Blessings FAQs

What is Bridge of Blessings and how does it help patients?

Bridge of Blessings is a platform that was created to make it easy for patients to ASK for help and make it easy for people to GIVE. It combines the idea of a gift registry with the needs of a patient into an easy-to-use platform.

How Does Bridge of Blessings Work?

Patients use the Bridge of Blessings registry as they would any other “registry.” They create a list of all items that they need help with (both financial and non-financial help) and post those items on the platform so that everyone who wants to help them has visibility to what the patient needs.

Family members and friends that are invited by the patient to a private page on the Bridge of Blessings Registry, can see a list of needs and help how they can.

Anyone can join the Bridge of Blessings registry and have an opportunity to donate directly to patients in need at http://mhm.org/bridge-of-blessings. Every patient whose registry is public has been verified as a real patient by Bridge of Blessings, ensuring that donors can give with confidence. The Bridge of Blessings registry also provides transparency on whateach request is for and facilitates easy transfer of funds to patients.

Also, providers and non-profit organizations can identify and refer patients that theybelieve can benefit from the Bridge of Blessings registry.

I am uncomfortable asking for help. How will this help remove my fear of asking?

While most patients need help, the fear of asking for help usually arises when a patient asks a specific person to do something for them. They don’t want to be a burden or an imposition to the person they are asking, so it is not the asking itself that is the issue, it is the asking of a specific person that is the problem. The Bridge of Blessings platform removes this barrier.

What types of things can I ask for help with?

We recognize that patients need both financial (e.g. help with rent, groceries, gas, medication, etc.) and non-financial (e.g., picking up children from daycare, going for a walk, talking, etc.) help. Our platform allows the patient to ask for both types of help. No request is too trivial or insignificant.

For example, a patient with stage 3 anal cancer wanted $20 to get a haircut but was embarrassed to ask his friends for money. He felt that asking for money for a haircut when he was dealing with cancer was inappropriate. What he did not realize is that there were many people in his support network who were happy to give him the $20 as they realized that self-care is as important as the treatment itself.

Can I create a registry on behalf of my child?

Yes, a parent or guardian of a minor can create a registry on their behalf. Donations will go to the parent or guardian’s connected bank account or debit card.

Will everyone see everything I need help with?

No. There are asks that a patient will only want certain people they know to help them with. The platform allows the patient to specify which group of people see which asks.

What if I don’t want people to know what I'm going through?

The confidential platform allows the patient to determine who they want to invite to support them as they go through treatment. Who you invite to support you, and what you want them to see, is 100% your choice.

Why would people who don’t know me want to help?

There are many people who have been through really hard times or have already supported patients during challenging medical journeys. Most people want to help others in need. The problem often is that they don’t know what patients want help with, because patients won’t tell them. The Bridge of Blessings platform gives them visibility into what patients need, which makes it easier for them to give.

How is this different from other sites like CaringBridge or LotsaHelpingHands?

Most of the other sites are focused on helping the caregiver who is supporting the patient. As such they are focused on the needs of the caregiver and the clinician and not necessarily the needs of the patient.

The Bridge of Blessings platform is solely focused on patients. We recognize that patients' needs are different from those of the people who care for and support them. We wanted to give the patient a voice to ask for what THEY needed to help them get through their patient journey.

Is there a way I can thank the people that have donated to me?

Yes. The platform has functionality for the patient to send a personalized thank you note to anyone who supports them.

Can I share my page to friends and family overseas?

Yes. Patients can receive financial support from people outside of the United States when the donor's credit card accepts international transactions. All transactions are processed in USD.

Are my donations to patients on the Bridge of Blessings Platform tax deductible?

Donations that are made directly to patients are not tax deductible for the Donors. Donations that are made to The Methodist Healthcare Ministries Fund are tax deductible.

If I have questions, comments, for the Bridge of Blessings platform - who do I reach out to?

Please email or call us at Bridgeofblessings@mhm.org or (210) 253-3204.

Can I share information about Bridge of Blessings with my doctors’ offices, social networks, etc.?

Yes.

Are there any tips to maximize the help I can get?

Here are some tips that have helped patients:

Invite people you know to join your care circle. The more care circle members you have, the more likely your registry requests will be claimed. Give them the opportunity to help you.
Don't create single registry items with high dollar amounts. Divide your large requests into smaller recurring items (e.g., July housing/lodging expense, August housing/lodging expense, etc.) The lower the dollar amount, or the more options, the more likely your registry item will be claimed.
Use the description field to explain what you need help with in more detail. People connect to the “why”.

Who can donate?

Anyone can donate. Please go to http://mhm.org/bridge-of-blessings to donate to a verified patient in need.

How do I contact Bridge of Blessings?

Please email us at Bridgeofblessings@mhm.org (Mon-Fri 9 am-5pm CST) or call us at (210) 253-3204.

Can I add journaling and pictures?

We currently do not have the ability to add a photo or journal. That is something we will consider in the future.

How soon can I access money that has been donated to me?

It takes 2-3 business days for funds to be transferred to your Bridge of Blessings account, and then you can do an immediate transfer to your connected bank account.

Will I be charged a fee for using the Bridge of Blessings Platform?

Bridge of Blessings does not charge a fee for use of the platform and provides an opportunity for donors to make a donation to offset transaction processing costs.

Are my donations safe?

We use Stripe as our FinTech partner. Stripe's secure system facilitates transactions for millions of companies in over 120 countries.

Will donations affect my SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, Food Stamps, or subsidized housing?

For patients who are receiving payments through Federal or State Programs including but not limited to SSI, Medicaid, Medicare, food stamps, Section 8 and HUD housing please be advised that some of these programs have limitations and restrictions that limit, or do not allow monetary donations through fundraising. We advise you to contact the specific government program before signing up for The Bridge of Blessings Registry.

Do I pay taxes on donations?

Generally, contributions made to the Bridge of Blessings Registry are personal gifts and therefore are not taxed as income to the recipient. However, you should keep good records of your contributions and consult your tax advisor.