Northeast Ohio resident from Afghanistan working to share culture, traditional foods as area prepares to welcome refugees

CLEVELAND — "When you give, when you share you are blessing others."

That was the message shared with 3News' Marisa Saenz Wednesday when she sat down with a Northeast Ohio resident from Afghanistan. 

The man, who asked not to be identified in an effort to keep himself and his loved ones safe amid homeland battles, shared his love of food from Afghanistan, "steamed rice with lamb, marinated with masalas and seasonings," as well as his fears about what is to come. 

"What's going on in Afghanistan is heartbreaking. It's making me sad," the man, who moved to the United States from Afghanistan in 2017, told 3News' Saenz.

RELATED: Cleveland agencies prepare to help hundreds of Afghans seeking refuge

The process of moving here is something he says he will not soon forget, "coming here took a lot of effort."

In the coming weeks, hundreds of Afghan refugees are expected to arrive in Northeast Ohio in the coming weeks – fleeing from the conflict in the middle east.

"No matter your color create or kind, everybody cmes together over food because it's from the heart or from the soul," said Jennifer Tidwell, owner of the NoHi Cafe in North Akron, a local spot where chefs can share homemade food from their culture with local residents. This week, NoHi has traditional Afghan dishes on the menu. 

The man has taken the opportunity at NoHi by the reins, temporarily renaming the restaurant Hujra, which translates to "guest house," and says that the opportunity to present Afghan food and culture brings him nothing but a sense of pride"

"Guests are very special in every culture, but especially in Afghan culture," he says. 

RELATED: Afghanistan man arrives in Cleveland, worried for family left behind

Some of the guests at NoHi this week? Migrants who just landed in Ohio.

Tidwell tells 3News' Saenz that the collaboration sharing Afghan foods and culture was planned before the chaos began in the middle east. 

Despite the emotions and fear that the man says, he says that he won't stop it from sharing his love of his culture with the community. 

"The things that I can control, I will do that," he says. "Share the blessing is important in life"

Editor's note: The video in the player above is from a previously published story