OUR STORY
A Decade of Dignity
Founded in 2016 by Zeenat Khan, DFWROS has served thousands of refugee families across Dallas-Fort Worth with food, education, and unconditional love.
Founded in 2016 by Zeenat Khan, DFWROS has served thousands of refugee families across Dallas-Fort Worth with food, education, and unconditional love.
DFW Refugee Outreach Services exists to walk alongside refugee and immigrant families — providing not just food and resources, but genuine community. We believe every family deserves a fresh start with their dignity fully intact.
From our food pantry and Hope Kitchen to ESL classes, driving lessons, and case management, every program we run is built around one question: what does this family actually need to thrive?
"We don't just provide services. We walk alongside families until they're standing on their own."
Rooted in faith and driven by compassion, we serve all people — regardless of background, language, or nationality — with equal welcome and love.
In March 2016, Zeenat Khan looked around her Dallas neighborhood and saw refugee families arriving — exhausted, disoriented, and often hungry. She did what felt natural: she cooked for them.
What began as meals shared at her kitchen table quickly grew into something larger. Word spread. Families came. Volunteers showed up. And a vision took shape — that no refugee family in DFW should face their first months in America alone and without support.
With no grant funding and no office, just a community willing to show up, DFW Refugee Outreach Services was born from the conviction that ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they serve together.
By 2018, food distribution had scaled to serve hundreds of families a month. Volunteers came from mosques, churches, and universities across DFW — united not by a single faith tradition, but by a shared commitment to their neighbors.
In 2021, Hope Kitchen launched, offering hot, culturally-appropriate meals and becoming a hub of belonging. Case management, ESL classes, driving courses, and employment support followed — each program born from listening to what families said they actually needed.
Today, DFWROS has served families from 38+ countries of origin. We are a fully registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, a certified partner with leading organizations, and a home for hundreds of volunteers who give their time every week. The kitchen table is still at the center of everything.
A dedicated group of staff, volunteers, and community leaders committed to serving with excellence and love.
Every person we serve is made in the image of God, worthy of respect and full humanity — regardless of status, background, or circumstance. We never reduce a family to their need.
We don't help from a distance. We sit with families in hard moments, listen before we act, and let their lived experience shape every program we build and every partnership we pursue.
Rooted in the conviction that caring for the vulnerable is a sacred calling — we serve all people with equal welcome, love, and respect, regardless of faith background or tradition.
We couldn't do this alone. These organizations stand with us in service of Dallas-Fort Worth's refugee community.
There is room for you in this work. Whether you give your time, your resources, or your skills — every contribution changes a family's story.
9535 Forest Ln, Suite 118 · Dallas TX 75243 · (469) 730-6609