Partner Spotlight: Bridge to Basics – Meeting a Critical Need with Dignity and Care
At ICA, we believe access to food is only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to community well-being. Hygiene items — essential, everyday products like shampoo, laundry detergent, or deodorant — are often an overlooked but deeply felt need among our clients. Thanks to our partnership with Bridge to Basics, that need is being met in transformative ways.
Since October 2024, Bridge to Basics has been providing a consistent monthly donation of 400 pounds of hygiene items, totaling an incredible 3,270 pounds to date. These donations allow us to offer our shoppers options like shampoo, soap, body wash, toothpaste, toothbrushes, diapers, deodorant, cultural hair products, and menstrual and incontinence care items — items that often go unfunded and unavailable through traditional support systems like SNAP or WIC.
The driving force behind this partnership is Kristie Thibodeau, one of Bridge to Basics’ co-founders and a dedicated Monday morning volunteer with us since January 2024. In that time, Kristie has contributed over 150 hours of service. Her deep care for the community and understanding of local needs helped bring this essential resource to our doors. When Bridge to Basics received grant funding in 2024 to expand beyond the St. Paul area, Kristie’s connection to our community made us a natural fit — and we’re so grateful she insisted on including us.
Kristie shares, “At Bridge to Basics, we aim to be a vital tool for our partners. Working with trusted organizations like ICA Food Shelf means we can meet more basic needs directly. By consistently providing hygiene essentials, we ease the financial burden on families, eliminating tough choices between food and items like laundry detergent. It also takes one critical thing off ICA's plate, allowing them to fully focus on their mission for a healthy, stable community.”
As one of our team members put it:
"Bridge to Basics filled a gap we were struggling to address. These hygiene items have brought joy, relief, and a sense of dignity to our shoppers. It’s a gift to be able to say, ‘Yes, we have that,’ when someone asks for something as simple as laundry soap or lotion."
The impact is visible every single week:
A new home delivery client in May was shocked (and thrilled) when offered both shampoo and incontinence items for her elderly father:
"I can hardly believe your generosity and service. Thank you so much."
One mom beamed while stocking up for her family:
"Mouthwash with fluoride!? What a treat!"
Another shopper quietly smiled at finding what she needed:
"Conditioner for my hair texture — how unexpected and appreciated. Thank you!"
Kristie and her co-founder started Bridge to Basics after realizing how many families were quietly struggling to stay clean, confident, and healthy. From conversations with school staff and food shelves, they learned that hygiene insecurity was causing kids to miss school and adults to miss work — not because of illness, but because of embarrassment or lack of access. They stepped up to do something about it.
Bridge to Basics now distributes more than a dozen different personal care products each month — products that may seem basic, but represent dignity, health, and self-worth for our clients. We are proud to partner with them and incredibly grateful for Kristie’s personal dedication to our work.
To Kristie and the Bridge to Basics team: thank you for helping us meet needs beyond the pantry and for making our community stronger, one soap bottle and toothbrush at a time. Learn more about Bridge to Basics at their website.