Norfolk Public Schools Angel/Giving Tree was empty, all the other gifts distributed. This is after our delivery.
Norfolk, VA - I thought my recent conversion to Islam would put an end to my days of Christmas shopping. God and Norfolk Public Schools (NPS) had other plans.
I was struggling to decide if I should continue the holiday traditions for a household where I’m the only faith-based member. What’s the point?
Turns out that the point was waiting for me in a Facebook plea for needy children. Time had run out for some students whose holiday gift tags were still forlornly hanging on the "Giving" or "Angel" tree at NPS HQ downtown.
The way this works is that parents submit a child’s name, age, clothing size, favorite color and a short list of hobbies in the hopes that someone will pick their tag off the tree and buy that child an appropriate gift.
Angel Tree tags for the kids we helped.
With five kids of our own (one middle school, three in college and one graduated) I only intended to take care of the needs of one child. However, when I called and learned that six names were left on the final day, no salvation in sight, I heard myself saying, “I’ll take them all.”
There was absolutely no way I could afford to take them all. It was an entirely faith-based decision. I believed without question that Allah (God, same God, different name) would make something happen.
The parents of those students had placed their faith in some unseen force, some band of Norfolk “angels” to help their kids. More than the sadness of the children, I worried about how those parents would feel about faith if those hopes died on the tree that day.
While Muslims believe in Jesus (Peace Be Upon Him, PBUH) we don’t celebrate birthdays of any holy people, we are all about giving and angels.
When refugee Muslim children in Newport News needed soccer balls, bikes, toys and school supplies during Ramadan the Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities came together via our FaceBook page RefugeeHelpers757 and the giving went on for months. Turns out we share the belief in giving.
Then and now an interfaith community became an angel train. Everywhere I went people got on board.
Brian Lancaster who mentors at Norfolk Initiative for Chess Excellence immediately paid for one child.
Our Imam at Tidewater Islamic Center didn’t hesitate to fund all the rest saying, “Children and needy families should be the priority for all of us.”
A friend at WAVY-TV called McArthur Mall and set up ice skating ticket packages for one child and his family.
Calamas Music walked me through the purchase of a drum pad and sticks for a little drummer boy.
Crowd sourced crafts at Walmart.
Strangers in Walmart helped me shop. One man picked out HotWheels cars. Two women helped me settle on Razor Heel Wheels for a little boy, plus crash pads. Others helped me pick out craft supplies for a girl.
The young woman at the register in Walmart suggested mittens, “So they don’t have to ruin their socks by using them on their hands the way they do.”
Do children really use socks as mittens?
“I see it all the time,” the cashier said sadly. I ran for mittens while she rang up the rest. I’m now on a mission via Facebook RefugeeHelpers757 to collect good gloves and mittens of all sizes to give all Winter.
My sons and their friends helped wrap and deliver. We did it all in one afternoon.
While my family doesn't share my belief in a higher power, we can still come together to celebrate and renew our faith in humankind.