Heart River Bridges of Hope

06/03/2026

If you’re in re-entry or are affected by the re-entry process, come enjoy a home-cooked meal and a chance to visit and connect with others. This month’s Re-Entry Meal and Support is 6:30–8 PM tomorrow evening, Thursday, June 4 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 502 N 4th St. In Bismarck.

Re-entering from HRCC? You may also see some familiar faces from Heart River Lutheran Church!😊

Re-Entry Meal and Support will be next week, Thursday, June 4th, from 6:30 - 8:00 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church!

There will be a home-cooked meal with a chance to visit and connect with others in re-entry or affected by the re-entry process!

The Bis - Man Reentry Supper Club is pleased to welcome Kinzey Shaw as the June 4th featured speaker. Kinzey will share her meaningful reentry and recovery story, the trails and tribulations and those positive factors leading to her reentry success.

Join us for a food and fellowship!

Location:
Trinity Lutheran Church:
502 N 4th St.
Bismarck, ND 58501

06/01/2026

"Walking Together" was the theme of the WND Synod Assembly this past weekend. Here's what this means to us at Heart River Lutheran Church: We are a Reconciling in Christ congregation with a unique mission—worshiping with and supporting women or youth who are or have been in corrections. This is a safe place of affirmation and welcome for all people regardless of race, ethnicity, correctional status, sexual orientation or gender. This is the road we walk during Pride Month and always, and we walk it together with all of our siblings in Christ.


(Photo by Alex Jackman on Unsplash.)

05/26/2026

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, we pause to name what we see every day: mental health matters—especially for people impacted by incarceration.
Trauma, addiction, and mental illness don’t disappear at release. Healing takes time, dignity, and community.
Thank you for walking alongside this ministry with prayer, care, and support. Together, we help make space for hope and healing.
Please continue holding this work and the people we serve in prayer.

05/15/2026

Just left the Synod office with donations from Bucyrus, Reeder and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church ✝️

05/08/2026

Did you know? We provide new shoes to young people leaving the North Dakota Youth Correctional Center (NDYCC). This ministry of Heart River Bridges of Hope and Heart River Lutheran Church - Mandan, ND is only possible with the help of our many partners and faithful supporters. Sign up to receive our e-newsletter to keep current on this work that God is doing with our hands. https://www.heartriverlutheran.org/contact-8

(Photo by Grailify on Unsplash)

03/31/2026

What a wonderful gift - a shower hosted by the women of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The gifts will be provided to those caring for babies born to residents of the Heart River Correctional Center in Mandan.

03/08/2026

Thank you to Schindler & Deis Optometry for hosting a Community Baby Shower Donation Drive with Heart River Bridges of Hope. This trunk-load of diapers, baby wipes, clothes, burp cloths, and hygiene items given by caring members of the community help support babies born to incarcerated mothers and the families caring for them during a time of transition. The support means the world to us and to families in need.

01/29/2026

Special thanks to Schindler & Deis Optometry and all who support us!

Quick reminder if you’re out running errands this week 🛒

Our Community Baby Shower Drive is underway and every item donated helps support local families through Heart River Bridges of Hope

Most needed right now:
• Newborn diapers (small packs preferred)
• Wipes
• Hygiene essentials (baby wash, lotion, diaper cream)
• Newborn & 0–3 month clothing
• Warm baby items (hats, mittens, snowsuits)

🎁 Plus: each donated item = 1 entry to win a FREE pair of glasses!*
📣 Winners announced Feb. 12

Drop off at Schindler & Deis Optometry (Bismarck or Garrison). 💛

*No donation necessary to enter or win.

01/19/2026

Will you host a baby shower?
A diaper drive?

Heart River Bridges of Hope is inviting you to help us meet a need at the Heart River Correctional Center, a women’s prison located on the same campus as the Youth Correctional Center. There are currently about 70 women incarcerated at that facility, and a much larger women’s prison is under construction on the same campus.

Unfortunately, some of the inmates are pregnant and babies will be cared for by family members or friends during the mother’s incarceration. HRCC staff have reached out and asked for help with baby items.

Here’s the message we received:
We are in need of some baby items as we continue to have pregnant women transferred to our care. We love to be able to send them off with some starter items to help ease the burden of families and to make their pregnancy time feel special. I don’t know if the church can assist with any of these, but here are some of our current needs if you are able to help us out:

Newborn diapers (smaller packs are best)
Baby wipes
Baby hygiene items (lotion, baby wash, diaper cream, towels etc.)
Bibs/Burp cloths
Baby socks and onesies
Baby hats/glove sets
Footed snowsuits
Newborn or 0-3 month clothing (especially neutral or for girls).

We still have plenty of receiving blankets and washcloths. We are totally okay with gently used items. . .
If you can help or need more information, please contact Pastor Gail Hagerty –
[email protected] .

01/11/2026

If you feel discarded, discounted, or unworthy because of your skin color, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity, functional limitations, corrections status, history of addiction, or any other judgment you feel, know that you are loved.