Q&A With Kathleen Joly, Founder of The Soulful Bridge

Q: What inspired you to start The Soulful Bridge?

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A: I created The Soulful Bridge because I’ve lived the struggle. I’ve seen firsthand how broken the system can be — not just for people who are unhoused or in recovery, but for anyone trying to rebuild their life. I wanted to create a space that wasn’t just transactional. Something personal, something practical. Something human. This isn’t about checking boxes or running people through a system. It’s about restoring dignity — through food, transportation, emotional support, and just being a safe place to land.

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Q: What’s the biggest challenge you expect to face in launching your vision?

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A: The hardest part is going to be dealing with people who feel they need to lie or manipulate to get help. And I get it — the way our system is now, it teaches people to do that just to survive. At The Soulful Bridge, we want to change that. You don’t have to be perfect or ready for a total transformation to get support from us. If someone comes to us and says, “I messed up and I need help,” we’ll say: Okay — let’s work through it. But part of receiving help is doing the work. You’ll meet with a caseworker. You’ll talk to someone about your budget. About your trauma. About how to stop repeating the same cycle.
We’re not here to punish people. But we are here to tell the truth. And hopefully, in five years, we’ll see fewer people feeling like they have to lie just to be seen or supported.

 

Q: How do you plan to recruit and train volunteers?

 

A: It’s all about access, organization, and mentorship. First, people need to see what we’re doing — openly and honestly. Transparency builds trust, and that’s what brings the right people in. Once someone signs up to volunteer, they’re not just thrown into the fire. They’re matched with a mentor. If you want to help with outreach, you’ll shadow a caseworker. If you want to cook meals, we’ll walk you through food safety, safe delivery, and how to serve without burning yourself out. Every act of service needs to be sustainable — for the volunteer and for the person being helped. We’re building a network of real humans showing up for each other in real ways.

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Q: What does “dignity” mean in the context of The Soulful Bridge?

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A: The dictionary definition of dignity is one thing — but to me, it means so much more. Dignity is the opposite of what so many people in crisis experience every day. Society has looked down on the unhoused. On people in active addiction. On survivors of abuse. And it’s heartbreaking, because the truth is: they didn’t choose this. Nobody chooses trauma. Nobody wants to stay in pain. Yes — I get it. Some people want to live “off the grid” or outside of the system. But the people we serve at The Soulful Bridge deserve to be treated like humans, no matter what their story is. Serving with dignity means we meet people where they are — without judgment. It means you can come to us for help with rent, food, recovery, or shelter and still feel like you matter. Like you’re loved. Not like a burden. Dignity means when you ask for help, we don’t make you feel less than for needing it.

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Q: What kinds of programs or services will you offer in the first year?

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A: I have to answer that question with a question: What kind of help does your mother need right now? Maybe someone to come help clean the house. What does your neighbor need? Maybe a lawnmower — or someone to mow the lawn for them. That’s what The Soulful Bridge is about. Real needs. Right now.
YES, we’ll offer things like:
- Transportation to appointments
- Free meals and donated groceries
- Hygiene kits and clothing
- Help finding shelter or therapy
But at the heart of it, our services are based on community intuition — seeing what people around us need and showing up. We’re not going to start with a thousand-dollar grant. We’re going to start with a thousand small acts of care.

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Q: What makes The Soulful Bridge different from traditional nonprofits or government aid programs?

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A: Well, if you’ve read anything so far, you’ve probably already felt the difference. Most traditional nonprofits — especially larger or government-affiliated ones — operate from a distance. There's paperwork, waiting periods, background checks, referrals, and often… coldness. You're a “case,” not a person. The Soulful Bridge? It’s raw. It’s real. It’s personal. Kathleen built this not from theory — but from survival. This isn’t an organization made in a boardroom. It’s made from nights of crying, struggling, surviving, and then choosing to reach back for the next person in line. The Soulful Bridge doesn’t ask “Do you qualify?” It asks, “How can we help?” And that changes everything.

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Q: How do you plan to sustain the nonprofit financially in the beginning?

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A: Right now? I’m fully funding it myself. From my own bank account. From sidewalk fundraising. From creative hustles, side jobs, and sacrifices. This isn’t backed by big grants or wealthy donors — it’s built from the ground up, by me and anyone who believes in what we’re doing. The Soulful Bridge is being built the way it should be — by people who care enough to give what they can, whether that’s $5, a hot meal, or a ride to a shelter. We're already doing the work, and I’ll keep supporting it personally until the community realizes this belongs to all of us.

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Q: Where do you see The Soulful Bridge in 5 years?

 

A: In five years, I see The Soulful Bridge growing beyond Florida — expanding throughout the Southeast. I plan to be living in Tennessee by then, while actively traveling between Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina to build relationships, strengthen community partnerships, and connect people to real help. The vision is to become a trusted regional network — with mobile resources, volunteer teams, and localized support hubs that can respond quickly and personally to people in need. I see us with a donation fleet, a homebase pantry, rotating counseling services, dedicated caseworkers, and thousands of small acts of service happening every week. This isn’t just about survival — it’s about helping people rebuild their lives with dignity, structure, and hope.