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City of Possibility

In August 2026, flash floods and landslides along the Nepal-Tibet border left widespread destruction across mountain communities — damaging homes, roads, bridges, and critical infrastructure. As search and rescue efforts continued, more than 1,450 bodies had been recovered and more than 5,000 people remained missing, according to a September 26 report from Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.

In response, Nepalis in New York City rallied to collect donations and send aid to Nepal’s disaster relief fund. These efforts centered in Jackson Heights, Queens, where many of New York’s Nepali community live and work. Nepali residents and business owners across the neighborhood organized several different gatherings and events in order to raise funds. The fundraising efforts extended through September, and the relief fund continues to accept donations.

Feet in 2 Worlds reached out to our friends at Khasokhas and NepYork — two journalism outlets serving the Nepali diaspora in the U.S. — to ask for a photo essay documenting these community efforts.

Geeta Prasai displays a poster promoting direct donations at the door of Namaeste Tasi Delek Restaurant & Bar in Jackson Heights, Queens, where she works. “We are with you, Nepal,” reads the poster, which features a QR code linking to the official Government of Nepal Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund. “We live in New York. The disaster is in Nepal. Give directly.”

Posters like these are displayed across Jackson Heights, encouraging donors to use verified government channels and avoid unverified accounts or intermediaries. The “We are with you, Nepal” initiative aimed to promote transparency and help ensure that relief contributions reach Nepal’s designated disaster-relief fund following the devastating August 26 floods and landslides.

Photo by Deepak Pariyar / Khasokhas
“Even though we live far from Nepal, we are with the affected families during this difficult time,” said Lelin Kandel, center, of NY Nepali Kaam Post, a popular community Facebook group based in New York City created primarily for the local Nepali diaspora.

NY Nepali Kaam Post organized an “Everything for Nepal” community fair on September 5-6, 2026, to raise funds for flood survivors in Nepal. Held in the parking area of Gorkhali Nepali Restaurant in Jackson Heights, the event featured local vendors, food, cultural activities, and community participation. Organizers said the event raised more than $7,000 for Nepal’s Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund.

Photo by NY Nepali Kaam Post
“We want to send the message that we stand with Nepal when the country faces a disaster. The main objective was not only to sell books, but to use literature and creativity as a means of humanitarian service,” said Passang Nuru Sherpa. Sherpa, along with Partikshya Thakali, organized “Books for Flood Victims — Stories That Give Hope,” a fundraiser held at Himalayan Yak Restaurant in Jackson Heights, Queens on September 13, 2026.

The literary gathering brought together authors, readers, journalists, and community members to support families affected by Nepal’s devastating floods and landslides. More than 70 people attended the event, where donated books by Nepali and Nepal-connected authors were sold to raise funds. The book sale generated more than $1,520, which was deposited into Nepal’s Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund to support flood-affected families.

Sherpa, who owns a barber shop in Jackson Heights and is also a songwriter, previously helped organize community support efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York. He later documented those experiences in his memoir, “Behind the Mask: A Pandemic Memoir.”

Photo by Rajan Thapaliya / Khasokhas
“Regardless of whether the amount is large or small, this is a small message of solidarity from us to our homeland. In this time of crisis, we will always stand with Nepal and the Nepali people,” said Mohan Baruwal, owner of Namaste Tasi Delek Restaurant & Bar in Jackson Heights.

The restaurant was a participant in the 14th annual Momo Crawl and Block Party in Jackson Heights, Queens, where thousands of food lovers, community members, and visitors gathered to celebrate Nepali cuisine and culture while supporting humanitarian efforts. The restaurant donated 10 percent of its Momo Crawl sales directly to Nepal’s Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund to support flood-relief efforts.

Photo by Kishor Panthi / Khasokhas
“We could make this small contribution during this difficult time in Nepal,” said Tsomo Dasel, owner of Himalayan Yak Restaurant in Jackson Heights.

The restaurant donated $5,000 to Nepal’s Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund through a partnership with Nepal Run USA, who organized a flood relief fundraising run on September 3, 2026. Himalayan Yak Restaurant welcomed runners and supporters for a community meal, and used proceeds from their buffet sales to support relief efforts.

Dasel’s husband is from Nepal, and while his family back home is safe, she said her concern extends beyond her own loved ones. Like many fellow members of the Nepali diaspora, she wanted to support communities across Nepal affected by the disaster.

Photo by Kishor Panthi / Khasokhas

Feet in 2 Worlds is supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Ford Foundation, the Fernandez Pave the Way Foundation, the Ralph E. Ogden Foundation, the Elizabeth Bond Davis Foundation, an anonymous donor, and contributors to our annual NewsMatch campaign.

Kishor Panthi is a Nepali-American journalist and the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas, a community media outlet that has amplified the voices of the Nepali community in New York since 2012. He is also the editor-in-chief of NepYork, the author of three books, and was recognized as a Diversity Leadership Fellow by the Society of Professional Journalists in 2023.

Feet in 2 Worlds (Fi2W) is an independent media outlet, journalism training program, and launchpad for emerging immigrant journalists and media makers of color. Our work brings positive and meaningful change to America's newsrooms and has a broader impact on how immigration is reported and the ethnic and racial composition of news organizations.