2022 - Q3

Friends,

You are receiving this because you have helped the first refugee relocation to Idaho Falls in a very long time be an overwhelming success.  Thank you! I’d like to give you an update and ask you to consider several opportunities to continue helping.

• G, M, and R are thriving!  They have had full-time jobs since May, and are now also full-time students at CEI.  Generous gifts have covered their fall tuition.  All three have learned to drive, received licenses, and two reliable cars have been donated. They continue to live rent free at the Hope House.  People throughout Idaho Falls have been gracious and welcoming, and they all enjoy living here.

• As you may know, all three men left Afghanistan under duress, piloting military aircraft out of the country, and had to leave their wives behind.  They have not seen their wives in over a year.  All three women have college educations, passports, and desire to join their husbands in Idaho.  Identical bills have recently been introduced in both houses of Congress that would accelerate the process of family reunification.  See more on the Afghan Adjustment Act here: www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/4787/text

Please consider:  Contacting the offices of Senator Risch, Senator Crapo and Representative Simpson to voice support for the bills.  

• I  have transitioned the Idaho Falls Bridge Builders from a Sponsor Circle to a 501c3 non-profit, and received IRS recognition of tax-exempt status.   The mission of Bridge Builders is “to assist legal refugees who choose to relocate to Idaho Falls.”  We have no employees and we have personally covered overhead costs, so 100% of donations have been used to directly benefit refugees.   We intend to continue to operate in this way.  We are exploring several options for welcoming another family, either Afghan or Ukrainian, this coming winter.

• Bridge Builders has just received the long-term use of a house on the numbered streets - we are calling it the Grace House -  which we hope to use for the benefit of multiple refugees on their paths to independence.  The Afghan men who are already here may use it at some point, or it may be used by Ukrainian or other refugee families. The house is in excellent condition but is unfurnished, and needs some landscaping work.

Please consider:  Donating things, or helping us with projects.  The address and a list of what is needed is here:  Grace House projects and needs  We are planning a work and donation drop-off day Saturday Oct 15, from about 9 AM to 3 PM.  We will send a reminder later.

Thanks again for your friendship and support!

(Photo withheld for privacy)

If you don’t want to receive updates like this in the future,  let me know.  Feel free to forward this to people you know would be interested, but please don’t put it on the internet or identify the Afghan men’s last names.