Neighbors Create Special Halloween Celebration for Boy With Autism’s Birthday

Neighbors create a special Halloween celebration for a boy with autism’s birthday. You might not expect to see children trick-or-treating while Fourth of July decorations are still hanging. But when 11-year-old Saurin wanted Halloween for his birthday, an entire Alabama neighborhood made sure he got a celebration filled with costumes, candy, and belongings.

Boy With Autism Dreams of a Halloween Birthday

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Saurin has autism, and trick-or-treating is one of his favorite activities. His mother, Leah, said he often puts on a costume, grabs a bucket, and announces that it is time to go. “He would say, ‘Okay, time to trick-or-treat,’” Leah said. “And he would be repeating that over and over.”

That gave Leah an idea. After months of planning, she posted in the neighborhood’s Facebook group, asking whether a few families might let Saurin trick-or-treat at their homes for his birthday. She even offered to provide the candy.

Her neighbors had something much bigger in mind. Eighty-three families volunteered, and not one accepted her offer to supply the treats. Instead, neighbors bought Saurin’s favorite candy and surprised him with LEGO sets, Play-Doh, and birthday signs decorating their homes.

83 Families Join the Special Celebration

Saurin made it to an impressive 70 houses. “I was going to say he was going to get tired at some point,” Leah said. “It was a long day. He wasn’t tired.”

The sweetest gift, however, was not inside Saurin’s overflowing treat bags. He met children throughout the neighborhood, many of whom now greet him when they see him. Some have even told their parents they want to trick-or-treat with Saurin when Halloween arrives.

“My overwhelming feeling was really just relief,” Leah said. “Because I know he’s safe here.”

Neighborhood Kindness Helps a Family Feel Supported

As a mom raising three children on the spectrum, I know how deeply this kind of kindness reaches. When the world takes the time to enter a child’s world instead of asking that child to fit neatly into ours, it says, “We see you. You belong here.”

And it does something beautiful for the family, too. Parenting a child on the spectrum can sometimes feel isolating. But 83 families opening their doors told one mother she was not raising her son alone.

They may have thought they were handing out candy in the middle of summer. What they really gave Saurin was the joy of being seen, and what they gave his family was the comfort of knowing they were loved.

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“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:7

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h/t: Good Morning America

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Heather Riggleman is a believer, wife, mom, author, social media consultant, and full-time writer. She lives in Minden, Nebraska with her kids, high school sweetheart, and three cats who are her entourage around the homestead. She is a former award-winning journalist with over 2,000 articles published. She is full of grace and grit, raw honesty, and truly believes tacos can solve just about any situation. You can find her on GodUpdates, iBelieve, Crosswalk, Hello Darling, Focus On The Family, and in Brio Magazine. Connect with her at www.HeatherRiggleman.com or on Facebook.