Hi everyone! I'm raising money to help my friend Roman buy a car since his old one stopped working a couple months ago. He needs it to commute to his job in New Jersey, where he works as an aid to autistic children, brightening their day with his Bollywood dancing, goofy sense of humor, and amazing cooking. It's hard for him to build up savings since he's the sole breadwinner for his wife and his baby daughter, Shayna.

As you might already know, Roman is an Afghan refugee. His parents and one of his sisters were murdered by the mujahideen as punishment for helping the US government during the war. He doesn't have any surviving family besides his sister, who remains imprisoned by the mujahideen, where they forced her into marriage and childbirth. Roman is incredibly resilient and has been able to somehow remain a funny, joyful person despite these terrible tragedies. Needless to say, Roman doesn't have any financial safety net to rely on, so he asked me to ask if I can reach out to everyone who knows him for help.

If you're seeing this fundraiser, it's likely that you've had the privilege of spending time with Roman and eating his incredible Afghan cooking. It's time we give back to Roman and show him the generosity he's shown us. He even plans to make a big meal for anyone local to Philly who donates to show his thanks. If you haven't met Roman yet, expect a delicious meal.

If possible, I ask that everyone give $50 to $100, or more if you can. I know the downpayment on the car he would need is around $3,000. However, no amount is too small, and he would appreciate any contribution you can provide.