There is a universal truth about every refugee in the world. By definition, they have lost everything. They are almost all middle-and working class people who had good and comfortable lives. They have not come her to take our money or our jobs.

When Lisa lost her husband in Afghanistan and her sons Baseer and Mudasir lost their father, she had to flee the country and get to America. And she lost everything.

Most governments,  including ours at one time, took responsibility for the refugees who have nothing and supported them for some time after they come to a new land. America is not an inexpensive place in which to live. It takes time for any refugee to build a new life.

Our government doesn’t do that any longer, and so Lisa had nothing for nearly two years as she struggles to learn English, find work, and care for her two beautiful and energetic sons. Her English is getting to be very good.

She is living in a filthy and roach-infested apartment, we are helping her to move to a new one in September. Today, to celebrate the Fourth of July in America, Ali and I took Lisa and  her sons to Wal-Mart. The Army Of Good raised more than $800 for this trip to Wal-Mart, today, exhausted in the heat after 90 minutes, we stopped at $415. 69.

When Lisa came into the store, she asked why there were so many people there. Because it is the Fourth of July we told her, her new country’s birthday, a day we were celebrating by bring her to  Wal-Mart, that most American of places.

After nearly two hours, we had to quit, there was no more room in the cart and we were all exhausted, it was hot in and out of the store.

The receipt was a foot long. The boys bought several toys they wanted – they could hardly believe what was happening – and got some great Superman and Spiderman and Black Panther shirts. Lisa focused on her slippers and the houseware she has desperately needed.

Baseer and Musadir could hardly wait to get home, they will sleep tonight.

We brought her her first vacuum cleaner today, she was overjoyed. See what you did.

We will come back next week to spend the rest of the money.

Baseer, 7 and Mudasir, 5 bought the first toys of their lives (they spent much of their lives in a refugee camp), two Nerf plastic machine guns they have long coveted. They were profoundly happy.

Lisa bought stacks of pants and shirts and a cart full of other clothes for her sons – they have never had new clothes – and then, under prodding from Ali and me, she bought some slippers for herself.

And some towels and cookware an a big trash can and shorts and jeans, and colorful towels, and a small grill, and about 100 other things for the boys. I will give Wal-Mart this, they have everything, and the stuff there is cheap. The money went a long way, and the rest will go further still.

Over the next day or so, I’ll put up some other photos of the shopping trip, it was great fun and immensely rewarding, we saw a lot of smiles on those weary faces. Afterwards, I asked Ali to share his thoughts about the refugees and America on the country’s birthday.

He always speaks from the heart.

Ali and I rejoiced in this trip today, this is what we are hoping to do and trying to do, and with your support, are doing it every week. Thank you, you are keeping good alive.

Tonight, Ali is taking the soccer team to Lake George, N.Y., for the fireworks there, funded by the Army Of Good. Nothing has ever seemed more American to me than an aging Jew and a  young Muslim teaming up on the Fourth of July to give this family an urgently needed boost.

Ali is my brother, our souls work in the same way.

And we are not yet done with Lisa and these two quite wonderful boys. They have come through Hell, and their spirits shine.

Lisa was overwhelmed with gratitude, which she showed me again and again, even though her acute shyness. I took 100 photos and she asked if I might only use one or two of them. No chance, i said.

Happy birthday, America, I feel your true spirit and soul were with us in Wal-Mart today.