Story written by - Hena Allaqaband, Strategic Partnerships & Storytelling Program Assistant, IRC Oakland

Starting a New Life in the Bay Area

For an Afghan family raising a child in the Bay Area, building a new life means balancing both immediate responsibilities and long-term hopes at the same time. Like so many parents, Hamid and Khadija wanted their one-year-old son, Zakaria, to grow up in a place that feels safe, stable, and full of possibility. 

“We hope to become proficient in English and give a better life and education to Zakaria.” Khadija shared. 

When the family arrived in the United States on a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), they were beginning again in a new country, a new community, and a new system. Through this program, the United States grants lawful permanent residence to foreign nationals who provided service to the U.S. government abroad. They connected with the International Rescue Committee in Oakland, where staff helped them navigate essential services such as employment assistance, medical care, public benefits, and other support needed to begin building a foundation in the Bay Area.  

Starting over makes even ordinary tasks feel overwhelming. Buying groceries, finding transportation, attending appointments, accessing baby supplies, understanding public systems, and adjusting to a new language and culture all take time and energy. For parents caring for a baby, those responsibilities can feel even heavier.   

Support Shaped Around the Family’s Needs

Through IRC Oakland, Hamid and Khadija have had support in navigating some of the practical challenges of resettlement. However, for this family, one of the most meaningful forms of support came through a partnership between IRC Oakland and First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley. 

Members of First Presbyterian Church had experience preparing food and distributing meals to people experiencing homelessness, and they wanted to find another hands-on way to make a difference. However, this family needed flexibility: the ability to purchase food and household essentials that matched their family’s preferences, schedule, religious practices, and daily needs. 

Beyond the Food Bank: Personalized Access to Food and Essentials

First Presbyterian Church responded with a $2,500 donation to support the family’s grocery and household needs, which was boosted even further through the generous donations from local Bay Area Instacart employees. Combined, the Instacart credits purchased with these donations provide roughly 12 weeks of groceries for Hamid, Khadija, and Zakaria. With the help of IRC staff, they could shop for fresh foods and products their child needs with just a few clicks, including access to EBT pricing. Instacart even allows Khadija and Hamid to access local halal markets in the Oakland area, tackling an area that most food pantries cannot focus on. 

Furthermore, the flexibility of online grocery shopping through Instacart helped reduce the stress and uncertainty of traveling to stores and navigating public spaces, offering the family greater peace of mind during a period when concerns about immigration enforcement activities can create additional anxiety for many newcomer households.

“It was very easy to order. It gives us time to spend looking for jobs or with Zakaria,” Khadija said. 

Moving Toward Stability and Belonging

The donation helped meet an immediate need, but its impact reached beyond a single purchase. It reminded the family that they were not rebuilding alone. 

Community relationships can open doors to resources, employment connections, conversational English practice, and everyday knowledge about life in a new place. 

For First Presbyterian Church, that gift became a way to turn compassion into practical support shaped around one family’s real circumstances. For IRC Oakland, the partnership created an opportunity to connect a newcomer family with a broader circle of care. Most importantly, the assistance became one part of a much larger journey toward stability, independence, and belonging. 

Support does not always have to be complicated to be meaningful. First Presbyterian Church’s support began with groceries, but it is growing into something even more lasting.