we take care of us.
It’s simple. Neighbors helping neighbors. Immigrant families in New Kent, King William, James City County, Hampton Roads, and across Virginia need support—especially now—so we step up.
What does hagamos vaca mean, anyway?
In Spanish, "hagamos vaca" means "let’s chip in." It’s what you say when the problem is bigger than one person can fix, but together, we’ve got it covered. That’s exactly what we’re doing—pooling our money, time, and whatever else it takes to make sure immigrant families in New Kent, King William, James City County, Hampton Roads, and other communities have a roof over their heads, food in the fridge, and a community that has their backs.
Hagamos Vaca isn’t some distant nonprofit with fancy offices—it’s a community effort, powered by a (very) small group of people who refuse to let their neighbors struggle alone. When a newly arrived family has nothing, your support stocks their fridge. When a kid needs glasses, you help them see. Every dollar goes straight to the work (seriously)—no red tape, just real help, right now for people who need it.
It isn’t charity—it’s solidarity. And it takes all of us.
When families in our community need help, we step up. Hagamos Vaca makes sure no one is left to struggle alone—whether that means filling a fridge, finding safe housing, covering costs for glasses or prescriptions, making sure families know their rights or that kids have a bike to ride. We handle the urgent needs, the everyday necessities, and the unexpected crises, because we take care of us.
As the saying goes, “El que no nace para servir, no sirve para vivir.” We believe in a world where everyone has something to give, and everyone deserves to be supported. Here are just some of the ways that we help.
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When families arrive with nothing, we make sure they have everything. We fill fridges, stock pantries, and provide the basics—bedding, towels, toothbrushes, diapers, and whatever else it takes to make a house feel like home.
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Healthcare shouldn’t be out of reach. We help families navigate free clinics, book doctor’s appointments, cover prescriptions, and get access to vision and dental care—including finding glasses when kids can’t see the board at school.
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A safe home is more than four walls. We help families find housing, replace broken water heaters, track down beds, washers, and other essentials, and step in when emergencies hit.
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Policies shape lives. We fight for protections for immigrant students like Safe Zone policies to ensure local public school staff are equipped to support students and their families during uncertain times. We also distribute Red Cards, legal resources, and Know Your Rights information to help families stand up for their rights.
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Every kid should have the chance to dream big—and the tools, mentors, and support to get there. We connect students to school supplies and custom learning programs to help them navigate their path from school to their future.
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When getting to a doctor, lawyer, or essential service is a barrier, we get people where they need to go. Full stop.
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Some needs don’t fit into a neat category, and that’s exactly the point. If a family needs help, we find a way—whether it’s a stroller for a new baby, a phone to stay connected, or just showing up when no one else will.
It all started with one teacher and a pair of glasses.
One teacher saw his immigrant students struggling—not just in school, but to see the board. They couldn’t afford glasses, so he stepped in to help. But the needs didn’t stop there. Families needed food, housing, medical care, and protection from a system designed to keep them vulnerable. What started as one act of kindness became something bigger than one person could handle alone. So we built something bigger. Hagamos Vaca is neighbors helping neighbors—because when the government turns its back, or there’s a lack of resources and challenges to access them, we step up.
we protect us
Never before has the need been more urgent. Hagamos Vaca started with one teacher and a pair of glasses, but it’s become something bigger—because the need is bigger. We’re making sure families have food, housing, medical care, and more, but we can’t do it alone. Every dollar you give goes straight to the work—no middlemen, just real help, right now.