13-Year-Old Boy From Mississippi Uses “Make-A-Wish” to Feed Homeless for a Year
Last year, Abraham Olagbegi got the news that he was born with a rare blood disorder and would need a bone marrow transplant. About a year later, the 13-year-old got much better news: his transplant was successful, and he qualified for Make-A-Wish, a nonprofit that helps fulfill wishes for children with critical illnesses.
That is when Abraham shared an idea with his mother. “I remember we were coming home from one of his doctor appointments and he said, ‘Mom, I thought about it, and I really want to feed the homeless,'” Abraham’s mom, Miriam Olagbegi, told CBS News. “I said, ‘Are you sure Abraham? You could do a lot … You sure you don’t want a PlayStation?'”
However, Abraham was uninterested in the PlayStation. Instead, in September, Make-A-Wish helped Abraham organize a day to hand out free food in Jackson, Mississippi — the food and supplies were donated from local businesses. They were able to feed around 80 people that day.
“When the homeless people get the plate, some of them would come back and sing to us and thank us,” he said. “And it just really feels good, it warms our hearts. And my parents always taught us that it’s a blessing to be a blessing.”
Abraham’s efforts are not over just yet — Make-A-Wish will help Abraham feed the homeless on the third Saturday of every month for a year. This will last through Aug. 2022, but Abraham already plans to keep it going much longer than that by starting a nonprofit that he has already named “Abraham’s Table.”
“We’re just very excited to be able to continue on this endeavor. It’s just so rewarding,” his mom said. “If I was out there on the streets, homeless, I would want somebody at some point to think of me and to do something special for me. So, that’s what I try to instill in my kids and we just try to pay it forward, by doing what we were raised to do.”
Image source: CBS News
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