YORK, Pa. — Organizers with Building Bridges for Brianna worked all day on Friday at the Dallastown Community Park, as they prepared for their 4th Annual Bridge Building Festival.
With around 140 vendors, five food trucks, and live music expected at the event, Matt Dorgan said this year's festival is expected to be the largest in the nonprofit's history.
“I thought we were going to do one event, raise some money, and donate it back," said Dorgan, the founder of Building Bridges for Brianna. "[I] never thought we’d be doing this, but now everybody talks about it and everyone wants to be a part of it.”
The festival was created a year after Dorgan's daughter, Brianna, lost her life to suicide. Four years later, the festival continues to grow and raise awareness about mental health.
“The stigma is getting broken," said Dorgan. "We’re not there [yet], but people are willing to talk and open up about mental health.”
Building Bridges co-founder Amber Wnek said their donations nearly double every festival, meaning the nonprofit can help pay for more mental health services across our region.
"We went from a one-room [office] that we were renting, and all of us were sharing, to a three-room space in the middle of Dallastown," said Wnek. “We’ve been able to help more people with copays; there’s some therapies, like art therapy, where we’re able to get them the things they need to help them with their therapy and get them in a better place.”
Organizers say the festival helps preserve Brianna’s memory by helping people find the mental services they need.
“I talk to hundreds of people that needed something like this," said Dorgan. "And that gives us the drive to keep putting this festival on and doing what we’re doing.”
The festival runs from 12-6 p.m. on Saturday at the Dallastown Community Park.