About us

BRiDGES to Prevent Tobacco is a public health policy advocacy program aimed at preventing the many deadly diseases caused by tobacco.

We are not an “anti-smoker” group.  We realize the tobacco industry has caused deadly addiction by lying about their products and ingredients.   We advocate for truth in advertising, labeling, and product design, as well as holding the tobacco industry accountable for its actions.

Cost & eligibility

There is never a cost to participate in our programs, and we do not solicit donations.

You are eligible if you are an adult who lives or works in Herkimer, Madison, or Oneida County and has no ties to the tobacco industry.

Our goals

We use evidenced-based (proven) strategies to:

1. Reduce secondhand smoke exposure by assisting landlords to make apartments smoke-free.
2. Decrease the social acceptability of tobacco use for youth by advocating for tobacco-free outdoor areas (parks, building entryways, sports facilities, etc.)
3. Decrease the social acceptability of tobacco use for youth by reducing their exposure to tobacco products and advertisements
4. Educate officials about public health problems and solutions
5. Add to the body of knowledge about tobacco prevention by evaluating the effectiveness of our efforts

About our volunteers

BRiDGES seeks community members for short-term and long-term volunteering projects.  You can volunteer in as little as 15 minutes per year.

Check our events calendar for volunteer opportunities.

We offer Presidential Volunteer Service Awards and recognition events for all volunteers.

A good way to start out, without committing a lot of time, is to share your story.  Click here to view our “Tell Your Story” flyer.

Click here to learn different ways you can support our program.

Click here to see a brochure about our program.

Contact us if you have any questions.