TOLEDO, Ohio — The Nuestra Gente Community Projects organization recently started a program to help new families who've just come into the greater Toledo area get adjusted.
The nonprofit's founder, Linda Parra, said the Nuestras Familias program came from an increase in calls and texts asking for assistance for refugees and immigrants moving to the city.
Nuestra Gente offers help to get the family off state aid and through culturally responsive and linguistically appropriate services like long-term housing, food, clothing, furniture, bedding, kitchen items, behavioral health navigation, medical screenings, translations, interpretations, transportation, legal assistance, flight and bus tickets, child care assistance and job hunting.
The nonprofit helps migrants and refugees from Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras,
Nicaragua, Haiti, Cuba and Peru. Families come to the office at 1411 Broadway St. and fill out a form with their information and the type of help they need.
Kelin Blanco, her daughter Keneily Rangel and family friend Emanuel Hidalgo shared how grateful they've been for the Nuestras Familias program.
"It's only been here for one week and they've been helping us with everything," Blanco said.
Parra said she's been proudly helping Latinos in Toledo for more than 20 years with whatever is necessary to thrive in Lucas County, whether it's job and family services, food assistance or just a warm smile and a listening ear.
"Doing this, I feel like I am home. I am with family where we support them and they help us too. Those families become volunteers, they say we want to give back," Parra said.
Recent political conversations have put immigrants and the conversation about refugees in a bad light. However, Parra said Toledo is a community that welcomes people, not to mention her work with those who've migrated here says otherwise.
"I am from Venezuela. I am an immigrant. I came here in 2000 and look what I'm doing right now. I am helping others. So, we have bad and good people. We cannot say all the people are bad," Parra said.
Blanco said the weeks-long dangerous journey from Venezuela to Toledo was hard fought. She said doing it with her two young children, only seven and 12 years old, was worth it, though, and she advises those looking for refuge in America to not give up hope.
"To be faithful, trust in God. It's not easy but you will make it," Blanco said.