03/31/2026
“I came to the United States when I was 10 years old, and almost overnight, I had to grow up. My parents depended on me and my brother for everything from translating at appointments, filling out school paperwork, making phone calls, and trying to understand systems that were completely new to all of us. It was almost like the roles were switched: my brother and I had to be the adults, figuring things out at a young age, while our parents looked to us to find the answers and solutions. I remember feeling overwhelmed and scared of making mistakes, knowing that my family was relying on me. There wasn’t room to just be a child.
When we found the Hope Refugee Drop-In Center (HRDC), it felt like someone finally stepped in to carry some of that weight for us. They welcomed us with kindness and patience, taking the time to explain things in a way my parents could understand, not just through me. Some of the caseworkers there spoke the same language as my parents and came from the same country as we did.
HRDC became a source of comfort and stability. They helped my parents gain confidence, access resources, and learn how to navigate life here on their own. That support changed everything for me. I didn’t have to be the only bridge between my family and the world around us anymore. I could focus more on school, make friends, and experience parts of childhood I thought I had lost – allowing me to be a child.
Because of HRDC, we went from feeling lost and alone to feeling supported and seen. They gave us more than services. They gave us dignity, community, and hope.
Today, I work for Jericho Road Community Health Center, the parent organization of HRDC, as an executive assistant. I support our board of directors and our executive leadership. To this day, HRDC staff are providing that same level of support to some of our newest neighbors here in Buffalo: system navigation, legal services, citizenship classes, school registration, and so much more." -Lal Par, Executive Assistant
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