With the most recent wave of asylum seekers coming to the Hudson Valley, some local residents are stepping up to donate their time and services to those in need.

Gabriel Herrera, a Newburgh barber from Los Barbaros Barbershop, was born and raised in Newburgh, but his parents came from Mexico.

“My parents when they came to this country, they always envisioned that we would succeed no matter what we did, we'd be well off or more well off here, then growing up over there. We’re from a small town in Mexico called Puebla, and I’ve been there a couple of times, and there's not too much that you can really do over there,” said Herrera.

Herrera said because of his parents sacrifices, he and his three siblings got to live their version of the American dream.

“Honestly, it's really tough. Just knowing how hard my parents struggled when they first got here, you know, it was weird times when they had to come. And it didn't, it didn't really at the time seem like it was easy to them. In fact, it was very difficult. They worked really, really hard, and did what they could to support us,” said Herrera.

Herrera says the recent headlines of migrants coming to the Hudson Valley and other parts of New York inspired him to want to help. He decided to help in the only way he could, by providing a haircut.

“We actually had somebody come here earlier at the barber shop looking for a job that was one of these people. So I feel like, overall, the community events should be something great, you know, something that as simple as a haircut will push along the overall support that they have here,” said Herrera.

Herrera hopes that his efforts will inspire others to want to help those less fortunate. He also hopes the asylum seekers know people in the community are here to help.

“I am a child of immigrant parents, you know, and I know that when they came to this country years ago, they didn't have this support. They didn't have these things they didn't have you know, something as simple as a haircut, you know? Their basic needs had to be met before something like this, you know, good could be done,” said Herrera.

The event is this Sunday and is not open to the public. They are still seeking volunteers to help and donate their time and services at a private location.