The Next Leap of Faith
It’s been just over a month since my last update, and, Whew!
We. Have. Been. Busy.
Assured in our belief that these volunteer efforts are a providential calling, Matt and I, along with two of our best friends, Jessica & Kristin Benson, took another giant leap of faith and incorporated our efforts into a legal nonprofit organization! I mean!!!! {insert ALL the HOORAHs & WOOHOOs here!}
Ask me how I know God is real and I’d say look no further than this nonprofit as one small example.
Never in a million years did I ever think I’d be volunteering in Poland & Ukraine, much less starting a nonprofit to help people suffering from conflict. But here we are. And how grateful I am for this opportunity.
So, what does this new legal status mean, exactly?
It means we can fulfill our purpose: as an independent charitable organization we have full autonomy to fulfill our purpose to meet the needs of people suffering humanitarian crises and inequities caused by conflict and establish long-term support to help them recover.
It means we have a new name: The International Bridge Collective, Inc. (The IBC, for short), along with a new logo, and a new website www.theIBC.org
It means we can independently accept donations: we can receive donations directly through our website or via check through USPS, and pursue other fund raising efforts like grants and corporate donations
Please note: we have applied for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with the IRS and are awaiting their approval. In the interim, we are allowed to operate as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, because the approval will be retroactively applied to our date of incorporation, August 22, 2022.
We are so excited about what the future holds and appreciate your support as we navigate these ever-changing waters.
And finally, I will be returning to Lublin, Poland and Western Ukraine, October 2 – 24, for one last visit this year with our partners.
As you’ve likely seen in the headlines, Ukraine’s defenses have been on the offensive, retaking territory from the Russians. This is encouraging, but make no mistake – the war rages on.
Winter is fast approaching and with most of the country’s infrastructure demolished or severely damaged in central and eastern Ukraine, people are in dire need for our continued support. I will be transporting a massive haul of strategic aid and gear to our partner, The Ukrainian Dream Charity, in western Ukraine; along with educational supplies and other goodies for our partners at God’s Light Church and EERF / Christians for Ukraine in Lublin, Poland.
So, look for updates from me and be sure to follow all the latest happenings on our FB and IG pages, too!
Sending big hugs and lots of love,
Lauren
