Operation Bridge Day: 3rd Annual Event – The Ashtabula County Mental Health & Recovery Services Board was proud to host the 3rd Annual Operation Bridge Day on July 30th, 2026, bringing together community partners with one shared goal—connecting individuals with the resources and support they need.
Operation Bridge Day was created to meet people where they are by providing direct access to behavioral health treatment, recovery support, housing resources, employment assistance, healthcare information, and other valuable community programs. Throughout the event, attendees had the opportunity to speak one-on-one with local agencies, ask questions, and learn about services available throughout Ashtabula County.
In addition to resource information, boxed lunches, hygiene items, harm reduction supplies, and other essential materials were provided to help meet immediate needs while creating opportunities to build trust and encourage future connections to care. Every conversation mattered, and every interaction represented another opportunity to offer hope and support.
A special thank you goes to the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Department and the dedicated outreach team who extended the event beyond the resource tables by searching areas where individuals experiencing homelessness have previously been known to stay. Although no individuals were contacted during this outreach, the team’s determination to hike through remote, wooded areas where encampments had previously been located highlighted their genuine concern for the well-being of some of the community’s most vulnerable residents.
Operation Bridge Day would not be possible without the incredible collaboration of our community partners. Thank you to every agency that participated, every volunteer who donated their time, every organization that contributed resources, and every individual who helped make this event a success. Your willingness to work together demonstrates the compassion, commitment, and dedication that make Ashtabula County such a caring community.
While the number of people served is important, success cannot always be measured in numbers alone. If even one person found hope, discovered a needed resource, or took the first step toward recovery because of Operation Bridge Day, then the day made a meaningful difference. Together, we continue to strengthen the network of support in Ashtabula County and remind our neighbors that they are never alone.
Pictured: Representatives from 26 agencies who participated in Operation Bridge Day.
Pictured: “Bridge Day Outreach Team” from left to right: Sergeant Brian Sterrick from Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Department, Eric Montgomery from ImpacT Recovery Services, Christy Fisher from Ashtabula County MHRS Board, Jessica Rich from Signature Health, Emily Zeigler from Juvenile Court, and Danielle Wittingen from LARC.
