NewBridges IRC started in 2000 when a group of local Mennonite churches recognized a demographic change in the Shenandoah Valley. In an effort to support newcomers, the board chose to focus its mission on human services. Our funding is primarily private through individuals, churches, and the United Way. Through extensive training and experience in the particular dynamics that influence the lives of immigrants and refugees, the agency works diligently to engage immigrants, connect cultures, and build community with a vision for a thriving community that everyone can call home. Recognizing that our work encompasses more than what a board and four staff members are able to provide, we focus our work on both reducing the burden that individuals and families experience when immigrating to our community and improving local community awareness and understanding of the immigrant experience and benefits to the area.