Last Christmas, a Once in a Generation Storm Transformed a Buffalo Neighborhood into a Family
Riaz looked to the sky as he unloaded the car. The rain that began the night before was turning to snow, and he was glad to be home after rushing out to pick up groceries to cover the next few days of messy weather.
He had woken early that Friday, December 23rd of 2022, to a Blizzard Warning on the weather report. Riaz took the news seriously but was sure he and his fellow Buffalo snow warriors would ride it out. After all, they had just endured a foot of snow a week earlier with no problems — how bad could it get?
It didn’t take long to find out. By midday, temperatures plummeted, and wind gusts topped 79 miles per hour. Bands of lake-effect snow blanketed the city to depths of two feet. Travel became impossibly dangerous as snow and wind combined to create wind chill below freezing and zero-visibility whiteouts.
Riaz, his wife Sarah, two sons, and daughter settled in to watch movies in their cozy family room as the wind howled outside. Little eyelids became heavy one by one, and the children were tucked lovingly into their beds. Riaz was buttoning up the house for the night when he peeked outside. Hmm…he thought, as he noticed not a single light shone on his street.
Lying in bed, Riaz remembered a lesson from his Imam. “Assisting our neighbors is like lighting a candle in the dark; each act of kindness brightens not only their lives but also illuminates the path of our faith.” Thinking of his neighbors shivering in the dark, he fell asleep, knowing what he must do.
That morning, Sarah’s jaw dropped when she heard his plan. Immediately, her mind was racing, thinking of everything that had to be done. The list was long, but her faith was strong as she spoke, “We can do it.” With that, Riaz grabbed his coat and headed out the door.
Battling through snowdrifts, he reached the home of his nearest neighbors, an elderly couple whose kids had moved away to sunnier climes. The lady of the house answered the door and tried her best to give a cheerful greeting, but Riaz could see from her heavy coat and the darkened house that she was the one who needed cheering up.
Riaz explained that, for some reason, his house still had electricity and heat and plenty of room for guests. He asked her and her husband to pack a bag and any foodstuffs and come stay with his family until power was restored.
The woman didn’t relish another cold, dark night and was delighted to take him up on his offer. “We really could use a hot cup of tea.” After helping the old couple navigate the path to his house, Riaz looked up the street and smiled, ‘One down, nine to go.”
House after house, the neighbors accepted Riaz’s warm invitation. The entire neighborhood came to life. Zig-zag paths through the snow appeared, all leading to the oasis of Riaz’s home. Many hands lightened the load, with early arrivals welcoming newcomers, hanging coats, and stowing belongings. Within hours, the household had grown to 28 people.
Living arrangements fell into place almost as second nature. Adults watched movies in the family room while the kids played games and streamed entertainment in the finished basement. Sleeping arrangements were devised with women upstairs, men downstairs, and the elderly couple given the spare bedroom.
The kitchen became a hub of activity with ten chefs, each with a tale of past or present immigration, wielding spatulas, spices, and sauces — Oh my! Sarah prepared her Pakistani Chicken Biryani. Others followed with favorites from their family cultures. With all the tastings, sharing of recipes, and smiles of delight, the rubbing of elbows in the kitchen planted seeds that would grow into lasting friendships.
The storm raged on. The snow machine continued all day with heavy snow and gusty winds. Accumulations of up to four feet of snow were reported, with snowdrifts between 5 to 8 feet. Nobody was going anywhere, and it was Christmas Eve.
Islam reveres Jesus, peace be upon him, as a great prophet. Mother Mary, known in the Holy Quran as Maryam, is mentioned no less than 34 times, with a whole chapter devoted to the story of the birth of Jesus.
Still, the Muslim community does not celebrate Christmas or, for that matter, the birthdays of any of the prophets. Instead, Muslims believe the best way to celebrate is to adopt each prophet’s teaching in everyday life.
So, how does a Muslim family accommodate Christian guests at Christmastime? With grace, love — and practicality.
Putting their heads together, the collected families realized that bringing in everyone’s decorations and gifts would burst poor Riaz’s home at the seams. Their solution was to bring in one Christmas tree, one gift per adult, and two per child, one to be given on Christmas Eve and a second from Santa on Christmas morning.
That evening, each family took turns giving gifts to their loved ones, with each unwrapping and reaction of delight cheered on by a standing-room-only audience. Even the children stayed to watch before running off to play with their new treasures.
Riaz’s family was surprised when their guests gave each a gift of appreciation for their generous hospitality. A young child placed the final gift of a white candle into Riaz’s hands, symbolizing the light his family’s example had given to the neighborhood.
Christmas Day was spent with the children opening presents from Santa and adults figuring out how to assemble new toys. It turned out they had plenty of time as crews struggled to restore power and clear roads. In total, the storm guests stayed in Riaz’s home for eight days!
There is more to this giving story, like when the household ran low on food and called 911 to see if they could get a delivery. The dispatcher could make no promises, but hours later, a Buffalo PD patrol car plowed within walking distance to deliver bags of groceries. Seeking to pass on their good fortune, a team set out for adjacent neighborhoods to share their provisions with those in need.
They were not alone in paying it forward. All over the city, Buffalo, New York, lived up to its nickname “The City of Good Neighbors” with tales of brave strangers helping strangers.
Like the three doctors who trudged through the blizzard to a young woman’s home and delivered her baby after 36 hours of labor. Or, the town employee who broke open a school and brought in dozens of trapped travelers during the storm, which would eventually claim 40 lives. One of those lost was a 26-year-old immigrant refugee who died in the snow on his way to buy milk for a friend’s baby.
Shared challenges have a remarkable ability to bridge the gaps that divide us. Something transformative happens when people from different backgrounds come together for a common cause. For Riaz’s neighborhood, that something was the realization that they had become family.
Neighbors who had previously exchanged a brief hello now celebrated together at birthday and graduation parties. House projects became a neighborly team effort. Kids were welcome in every house, watched over by a street full of aunts and uncles.
It is in the joyous laughter, the collaborative effort, and the mutual support that we discover our common humanity. In a world where divisions seem insurmountable, shared experiences are a powerful force for building bridges and creating community.
If you enjoyed this story, give me a clap, share, send a response, or follow me on Medium. Let’s continue our journey of learning together!
You might also like — This Christmas, Give the Gift of Belonging
