An Afternoon of Appreciation: The Power of Collaboration

Across Poland, people are working every day to help others facing difficult circumstances — refugees rebuilding their lives, Roma children seeking educational opportunities, people experiencing homelessness, families facing serious medical challenges and people with disabilities working toward greater independence.

These efforts often happen in different places and across different organizations.

On September 16, representatives of 11 humanitarian and community organizations gathered at the Warsaw chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for an afternoon designed to bring all of those efforts together.

The event honored approximately 30 individuals whose work serves communities throughout Poland while giving participating organizations an opportunity to meet, exchange ideas and explore ways they might work together.

Among those gathered in the Warsaw chapel were Church leaders and representatives, including Warsaw District President Jakub Muklewicz and his wife, Alma; Warsaw Branch President Dariusz Dresler and his wife, Magdalena; Michal Hanzal, Public Relations Manager for Central Europe; Urszula Czesak, Communication Director for Poland; and Helmut Wondra, Welfare and Self-Reliance Services manager from the Area Office, accompanied by Mac and Patty Richards, Humanitarian Managers for Poland.

Eight young missionaries from the Poland Warsaw Mission performed “Give,” Said the Little Stream in Polish, accompanied by guitar. The song reflected the spirit of the organizations being honored, whose efforts continue to bless communities throughout Poland.

A multimedia presentation highlighted the beneficiaries served by each organization and shared stories illustrating how lives have been changed through their efforts. The presentation also featured the logo and mission of each organization. At its conclusion, participants rose to give a standing ovation in recognition of the dedicated service provided by members of the participating organizations. It was a moving moment.

For Elder and Sister Jarvis, senior missionaries serving in Poland, the gathering was about more than simply expressing appreciation. “We want to promote collaboration in humanitarian efforts to make this world a better place,” they explained.

For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, caring for people in need is one way to follow the Savior's example and show His love for all of God's children.

When One Relationship Opens Another Door

One example of this collaboration is the story of Pastor Oleh Sydorchuk and his wife Maryna, who came to Poland from Ukraine in 2015 and now help refugees and others in need. As they sought to expand their humanitarian efforts, they faced limitations because they were not operating as a formal nonprofit organization.

With help from Church missionaries, they were connected with another group that mentored them through the process of establishing their own NGO. That new status has opened access to additional government resources and other benefits, allowing them to expand their ability to serve people in need.

Oleh and Maryna said that their own experience as newcomers to Poland shaped their desire to help others. “When we arrived in Poland, good people helped us. They provided us with information and advice, accompanied us to government offices, and helped us find a place to live. Because we experienced that support ourselves and know how difficult it can be, we now feel a responsibility to help others who are arriving in Poland. We received help, and now we want to pass it on.”

Their story also illustrates an idea at the heart of the appreciation event: sometimes the most important resource one organization can offer another is not money or equipment but a connection.

Finding Ways to Collaborate

Since first providing humanitarian aid in Poland back in the early 1980s, the Church's relationship with philanthropic organizations throughout the country has developed in many different ways.

For instance, Caritas, one of Poland's largest humanitarian networks, initially showed little interest in working directly with the Church. Over time, however, personal relationships have helped establish trust and reveal opportunities to collaborate.

Those relationships eventually connected Church representatives with Caritas organizations in other parts of Poland. Together, they have explored ways to support projects serving vulnerable people, including hospice care, social services and people experiencing homelessness.

Representatives of Caritas attending the gathering said that partnerships like these help organizations expand both their capacity and their impact. “We are grateful to work with partners who understand the needs and challenges of the people we serve. This cooperation has helped us expand our capacity, create more opportunities for refugees and other beneficiaries, and continue providing the services they need. We look forward to building on this relationship in the future.”

This same pattern has been repeated in smaller, more personal ways throughout the country.

For instance, young single adults from the Church in Poland have shared time with autistic youth served by Ognisko, including an outing to a Christmas market and a Christmas gathering. Other Church members have provided clothing and baby equipment for Roma families through Jududoro. Missionaries have regularly volunteered at food banks. Relief Society sisters (the Church’s women’s organization) have assembled hygiene kits for Roma women. Church members have likewise helped distribute supplies to refugees arriving at the Polish border. Other service projects are planned for the coming months.

These efforts cannot solve Poland's humanitarian challenges by themselves. Together, however, they illustrate what can happen when organizations and individuals find ways to contribute what they have.

Service That Helps People Reach Their Potential

One organization recognized at the appreciation event was Ognisko, which serves people with autism and Down syndrome and helps them develop skills for greater independence and employment.

The organization operates a restaurant where people with disabilities can work and develop practical skills. The Jarvises have supported the restaurant by arranging for it to provide meals for a missionary gathering.

Ognisko is also working toward establishing a training center that could provide additional opportunities for people with disabilities to develop skills and prepare for employment.

Marcin Szczypczyk of Ognisko said that the partnership grew from shared values and a common desire to help others. “What connects us is a shared desire to help people in need. Our mission is to support people with disabilities and their families and help them become more independent throughout their lives. We are grateful for the friendship that has developed through this relationship. It all began with a single volunteer, but it has grown into opportunities to serve more people together.”

More Than an Afternoon of Appreciation

The organizations represented at the gathering serve people from many different backgrounds. They work with Ukrainian refugees, Roma communities, children and teenagers, people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, families facing serious medical challenges and others who need support.

Although their missions, approaches and communities may differ, the people behind these humanitarian efforts all share something important: they have each chosen to serve.

That is what the Church sought to recognize through its appreciation event. The gathering also created an opportunity for organizations that might otherwise never meet to sit together and discover what they have in common.

At the start of their mission for the Church, Elder and Sister Jarvis adopted a phrase they encountered on a Poland billboard as the guiding principle for their work: “No presence, no impact.” For them, being present in the community means more than simply making Church resources available. It means developing relationships, listening to people and learning where help is needed.

“The Church's genuine interest is in the welfare of all of God's children,” Sister Jarvis said.

The Power of Collaboration

The Afternoon of Appreciation ended by recognizing the organizations and individuals who attended.

But the organizers hope the most significant results of the gathering come later: A conversation might lead to a new partnership. One organization might discover a resource another already possesses. Volunteers might find a new place to serve. A relationship formed in Warsaw might eventually help someone hundreds of kilometers away.

These possibilities are at the heart of the event's message. Poland not only needs more people serving — it needs more of them finding one another so they can collaborate.

The Church's role is not to do all of that work itself. It is to contribute where it can, invite others to contribute what they can and help create relationships that make service more effective.