Zahra Colette Saad stands in front of donations dropped by her store

DEARBORN HEIGHTS— The refugee crisis in the Middle East is the worst since World War II. The photo of one child captured the agonizing scope of the tragedy and made citizens of the world feel a responsibility to help their fellow humans. 

Moved by the photo of Aylan Kurdi, two businesses in Dearborn Heights started collecting clothes, shoes and blankets for refugees. 

Color Salon is shipping a container of donations to Lebanon in mid-October and Custard Hut has helped collecting contributions for a week. 

Zahra Colette Saad, owner of Custard Hut, told The Arab American News she felt compelled to do something about the crisis and Roudayna Taha, the owner of Color Salon, said the community’s reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. 

Both businesswomen started spreading the word about the initiative on social media. 

Custard Hut stopped collecting donations on Thursday, but the salon will continue gathering contributions until Oct. 10.

“All I want to do is make a difference and help refugees from my heart,” Taha said.

Color Salon is dedicating all of its income on Sept. 29 and 30 to cover the shipping costs. And Saad and her employees gave up their tips for a week to buy new socks and underwear for the refugees. 

The New Generation Cultural and Educational Council of America will help disperse the clothes in refugee camps in Lebanon.

Saad said she was heartened by some of the donors who are struggling financially yet were able to give. One of the people who brought bags of clothes was a refugee himself, she added.   

Saad voiced her disappointment that more affluent individuals did not contribute in a greater capacity.

“It saddens me to see that the wealthy people in our community are not donating,” she said. “We are privileged here. Haven’t you seen what’s going on? It is heart breaking. It’s just clothes you don’t want. Why not give it to a good cause?”

Saad also criticized local mosques for not doing enough. She said a donor had told her that she sought a community mosque’s help to donate to the refugees, but was turned down. 

After local media covered the businesses’ humanitarian efforts, xenophobic internet users attacked Saad instead of praising her.

The businesswoman said she ignores such remarks. 

“It’s not my problem what people post,” she said. “If it helps you sleep at night, say what you want. I am trying to help people who have nothing. I’m doing this out of the kindness of my heart. I’m getting nothing from this.”

Saad added that bigots do not represent society, as evidenced by the large number of non-Arabs who made donations.

Taha echoed Saad’s response.

“I saw some negative comments,” she said. “I ignored them. Some people are ignorant. I know what I’m doing and I know where the donations are going.”

Taha urged the community to drop off new and gently used clothes at her store. She said there is a special need for winter boots and jackets.

Color Salon is located at 23438 Ford Road.