When a catastrophic flash flood tore down the Bhote Koshi River on August 26, 2026, Nepalis in New Jersey woke up to news from home that was hard to bear. Within hours, our community started showing up, for each other and for families thousands of miles away.
Over the next few weeks, that response grew into something none of us could have done alone. On October 5, it reached Kathmandu.
A community responds
In the first days, neighbors across New Jersey and New York held candlelight vigils, including one in Jersey City, shared verified news with friends and coworkers, and spread the word about how to help. More than 100 people gave through our website, GoFundMe and in person. Some gave a few dollars, some gave much more, and every gift was part of the same effort.
Partners who stepped up
Local businesses and organizations found their own ways to help:
Studio G Collective led fitness classes through Fenix Fitness and Latin Heat Moves and donated the proceeds, $770.
The Oakland-Franklin Lakes Rotary Club invited Rajendra Shrestha to their meeting to learn about Nepal, the scale of the flood and how its members could help.
Fair Lawn Sunrise Rotary Club and the Handang Tumulong Foundation gave generously after connecting with Rajendra Shrestha about coordinating flood relief efforts.
ARC Beauty Salon and Himalayan Fresh Water matched donations dollar for dollar, adding $4,433, and even Himalayan Fresh Water’s customers chipped in.
Mitho Restaurant and hundreds of individual donors added their support.
Together, the appeal raised $16,009.
From New Jersey to Nepal
On October 5, in Kathmandu, ARC for Nepal and our sister organization, the Rajendra Anjana Foundation, presented NPR 2,000,000 (about $13,050) to Infrastructure Development Minister Sunil Lamsal for the Prime Minister’s Natural Disaster Relief Fund. The funds support relief, rescue and rehabilitation for families in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan and surrounding areas. Sansar News covered the handover.
We sent the bulk of what our community raised to the government’s fund because, in the first weeks of a disaster this size, one coordinated response can reach isolated communities fastest. The transfer went through the Rajendra Anjana Foundation, following the approval, banking and reporting requirements of Nepal’s Social Welfare Council.
It still matters.
The same day, Nepal’s government ended its 40-day search and rescue operation and turned to rebuilding. Roads, bridges and homes along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers will take years to restore, and the government’s own assessment puts recovery and reconstruction needs at around $4.7 billion. As of mid-October, funding for that plan was still being finalized. Families there will need support long after the headlines fade.
The work continues
Our community isn’t done. On September 27, a second flood on the Kali Gandaki River destroyed dozens of homes, school buildings and bridges in Parbat district. The remaining $3,500 will go directly to families there: backpacks and school supplies for children and wheelchairs for seniors who lost theirs, delivered by the Rajendra Anjana Foundation in November. We’ll share photos when it’s done.
Thank you
To everyone who gave, shared, showed up or simply asked how to help: this was yours. Thank you.
See where every dollar went
ARC for Nepal is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. EIN 92-2994809.
