ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Knowing they're thousands of miles away, people in Rochester know they can't directly help rebuild the earthquake-flattened towns in Nepal, but they can rebuild the spirits of their brothers and sisters.
"It's so heartbreaking," Bijaya Khadka said. "It never happened to me, so when I saw this kind of stuff, like people dying all over the place and begging for food."
Khadka did what his Nepali roots told him to do - gather people together.
"They need hope, they need encouragement, help and support," Khadka said.
Signs were created, candles were lit and together Wednesday, nearly 200 people stood silent to remember the more than 5,200 killed.
"We just pray for them, those who lost their lives, and their families," Desntu Rai said.
Rai said her family is unharmed, but is left living on the streets after their home was destroyed in the 7.8 magnitude quake. Rai added it's been hard to be here in Rochester with a roof over her head.
"I'm not happy, I'm really not happy," Rai said.
Like other 6,000 to 8,000 Nepalese who now call the Flower City home, the only peace of mind they can get is from each other.
"We have no physical support we can show, but we can show moral support," Tek Acharya said.
Then there are those like Pastor Paul Schilling, who traveled from Utica to light a candle to support the people he's grown to love.
'"They have a real kindred spirit and just a unity. It doesn't matter if you're a Christian or not, the Nepali are just really loving people," Schilling said.
As the Nepal national anthem rang out, together they built their beloved country in candles, hoping the flames burn bright in their loved ones hearts an ocean away.
"(We) just encourage them, empower them and give them hope," Khadka said.
On Saturday there will be fundraiser held to assist victims in Nepal. It will take place at Happy Earth Tea.