Alabama neighborhood gives autistic boy a birthday filled with trick-or-treating

Soren Griffin spent his 11th birthday doing what he loves most: walking from door to door and ringing doorbells. The only difference was that it happened in July, and he was dressed as a banana.

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He just likes ringing doorbells. I don't know why. He likes being nosy.

Soren’s mother, Leah Farrow, said her son is autistic and has always been fascinated by doorbells. Halloween is his favorite holiday because it gives him a reason to visit houses and ring them. But taking him out for ordinary “ding-dong-ditching” is not an option, she said.

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I was a little overwhelmed by the kindness because I'm like, how can I ever repay this?

For his birthday, Farrow posted a message on Facebook asking whether anyone in the Huntsville neighborhood would let Soren trick-or-treat at their homes. She expected three or four responses and offered to provide the candy herself. Instead, more than 100 neighbors volunteered, including people she had never met.

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You don't often get the opportunity to directly help someone you don't really know.

Soren went from house to house until his basket overflowed. Neighbors gave him candy, Doritos, Goldfish, Play-Doh and Lego sets. Farrow said she felt overwhelmed by their generosity and wondered how she could repay them. The neighbors did not expect anything in return. One said people rarely get the chance to help someone they do not know, while another said seeing the boy’s smile was “miraculous.”

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To see that smile on that little boy's face was miraculous.