Today we’d like to introduce you to Ima Petion.
Ima, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
As a child, I remember my mother packing up our old clothes, shoes, as well as going to thrifts stores and yard sales to purchase what she could afford to send to her family and those in need in Haiti. Even though we did not have much ourselves growing up in a single-parent home, my mother always had the heart to give. She would tell my two siblings and me that there are always people who are in worse situations than us and that God was our source. So, the more we gave, the more God would supply all of our needs. I would watch my mom tithe her last twenty at church and then witness a stranger pump $40 gas for her. During hurricane season while living in South Florida, our lights would go out for days sometimes weeks and my mom would start a fire in the backyard, cook, and feed the block. I understood the lesson that my mom was trying to teach us was for the greater good of mankind but as a child sometimes, I thought my mom was going crazy. I remember hearing my mom say things like “God is going to make a way out of no way” or “there is a miracle on its way”.
Although, it wasn’t until the summer going into my freshman year of high school that I realized the power of giving and that God truly was a miracle worker. My family and I were at the laundry mat and no one knew that we didn’t have groceries in the house and hadn’t gone shopping for the new school year. Summers were always difficult for my mom because most of her income went to the bills and groceries. My mom didn’t have enough money to dry the rest of our clothes so she asked my siblings and me to start folding them and that we would hang them up to dry at home. Well, right before the last load was finished a young lady walked up to me and asked me to ask my mom if she could bless us. Even though there was a language barrier, my mom looked at me then looked at the lady and said: “God bless you, yes you can”. The young lady walked away and came back and asked my mom to open her hands as she placed over 200 quarters in her hand. All my mom could say is “God bless you, God bless you, thank you so much”. I was shocked and just helped my mom pick up the quarters that had fallen on the ground. The young lady came back a second time right before we were getting ready to pull out and asked my mom to open her trunk as she filled it with groceries that she had gone and purchased from a store nearby. I could see in my mom’s eyes that she wanted to cry but all she could say is “thank you, God bless you”. The lady then handed my mom an envelope with $200 dollars in it and hugged my mom and said God Bless You”.
I began to cry as I sat in the back seat and I promised God that day at the age of 13 that I would always give and that I wanted to be just like that young lady, I wanted to be an angel for others like she was for my family. This experience had completely shaped my life and from that day, I gave all that I could, from free car rides to teammates, free hairstyles, clothes, shoes, furniture, food, and even mentored at-risk youth in my spare time. If God told me to give no matter what it was I did just that always remembering all that God had done for me. Which is what truly gave birth to my non-profit organization The All Giving Tree.
After obtaining my Master in Social Work from the University of Southern California, I decided to partner up with some of my close friends and family to host an annual Back to School Giveaway at Riverland Park, the neighborhood where I was born and raised. Our first year, we serviced over 150 students and their families providing backpacks, uniforms, shoes, school supplies, free hairstyles/hair cuts, and lunch. At this year’s 4th Annual Back to School Giveaway, we were able to service over 500 children and their families offering the same services and more with the help of community business partners such as the Fort Lauderdale Police department Community Engagement Team, Hi’ Chi’s Hair Studio, Advance America Loan Company, 252 Ministries, Profound Sound Productions, Top Flash Photography, DM Empowerment, Revelation Christian Church, Glorious Word Church, Creative Makers Guide, Berly and Beads, and Eclair Soccer Foundation. There were so many other helping hands that made this event a successful one and I am forever grateful because this work takes a village.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
This journey has definitely been a humbling experience. No one sees the amount of time that you spend starting any form of business or the sleepless nights planning, as well as second-guessing yourself along the way. Giving was the easy part but the tedious work that you put into getting proper documents legalized. Planning your budget to meet the cost to start up a nonprofit, or making sure that you have the right board members by your side that believe in the mission of the organization is something that you must not rush. Before starting the organization, I processed the vision for a year while figuring out what would positively impact my community, I also found out what were some major needs that this population had, and most importantly, I prayed until I got my answer.
My answer allowed me to give birth to The All Giving Tree, Inc. A nonprofit organization that donates preloved clothing, shoes, furniture, and day-to-day living accessories to children, adults, and families in need, With this mission The All Giving Tree is able to provide a wide range of services to any community.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into The All Giving Tree story. Tell us more about it.
I am currently a mental health therapist at a middle school within the Broward County School system. I love my job because by day I am a community advocate assisting my families with job placement, finding resources in the community, such as food banks, as well as providing any form of assistance that will ensure the nuclear success of the family. As for after school, I have the privilege to counsel their children. During my spare time, I provide consulting services to others who want to start up a nonprofit which also includes grant writing. I also assist with community projects while providing clarity to the visionary and publicly speaking to at-risk youth sharing my testimony.
I love what I do because helping others is a part of my self-care. It brings me joy to see others succeed. I think that helping others succeed sets me apart from others because I was once that child who as statistic may show wasn’t supposed to make it out of the hood. I was once that child that acted out in class because of circumstances that were happening at home. I was once an at-risk youth that tried to commit suicide due to being molested as a child. I once wanted to drop out of college because playing basketball while working a full-time job was overwhelming and I didn’t want to burden my mother with more bills. I had many reasons to give up but I never did because I knew that one day I would help millions of people who had needs similar to mine. That was my motivation then and it still is now. I am grateful for my scars because they give me the strength and courage to help others heal theirs. The All Giving Tree is a reflection of me, a strong force that stands tall planting seeds and watching them grow. It is truly a blessing to be a blessing and I wouldn’t be able to do this work alone. I am so thankful for my team and my families constant prayers and words of encouragement. They are the branches on my tree.
Is there something we can do as a city to improve the outlook for businesses like yours?
I feel like our city is a great place for nonprofit organizations because I believe that you must be the change you want to see in this world. There is no greater place to do that than starting first at home. Fort Lauderdale, Riverland raised me. I remember playing basketball and practicing until 2 AM at the same park that I now host our annual Back to School giveaways at. I have the pleasure of helping my Haitian family’s in need who are a reflection of me. When the family’s walk up to me to tell me to thank you it is a privilege to tell them God bless you in my native language. The hugs from all the children and their families that come to the event are priceless. I am blessed to show all young girls and boys from low-income neighborhoods and around the world that I made it and they can too.
Pricing:
- Make a Donation of $25 or more receive a free organization shirt
- Athletic fleece shirts- $25
- V-neck crew shirts- $25
Contact Info:
- Facebook: Imapetion
- Phone: 9543984173
- Email: theallgivingtreeinc@gmail.com; Imapetion@gmail.com
- Instagram: theallgivingtreeinc, imapetion
Image Credit:
Garicson Dorcelus, Top Flash Photography
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