Why I Volunteer

Volunteering with Ansar Outreach is not just something I do — it’s part of who I am.

I never set out to start a nonprofit. I wasn’t looking for recognition or a title. I simply wanted to serve. To help in ways that I wish someone had helped the people I love. My passion for prison outreach began long before this organization had a name. It began in letters, in prayers, in commissary funds quietly sent, and in the ache of watching loved ones suffer behind bars.

When my husband came home after more than 17 years of incarceration, he brought with him a heart overflowing with purpose. He knew the struggles of reentry firsthand — the mental, emotional, and spiritual weight that comes with trying to start over. Watching him not only rebuild his life but choose to turn back and serve those still inside lit a fire in me. His compassion moved me. His experience shaped the mission. And I knew I had to support him — not just as a wife, but as a fellow believer committed to something bigger than ourselves.

Volunteering with Ansar Outreach is deeply spiritual for me. I do it seeking the pleasure of Allah, knowing that when we serve those inside and outside of those walls, we are honoring a sacred trust. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Free the captives, feed the hungry, and visit the sick.” How could I not want to be part of that?

Every task, big or small, matters. Every moment is worship when done with the right intention.

Why do I volunteer? Because I know what it feels like to love someone who is incarcerated. I know the weight of waiting. I know the power of hope. And I know that mercy — real, tangible mercy — can reach into the darkest places and remind someone they are still worthy of dignity, of love, and of a second chance. This work is hard. It’s not always pretty. But it’s beautiful. And I’m honored to be a part of it.