I got a message this afternoon from Anne, who is helping the new refugees coming to my area, that the warehouse volunteers in Albany are “in a tizzy,” they are so excited about the orders that are already coming through from the special Amazon page set up for the refugee arrivals by the U.S. Committee on Refugees And Immigrants.

The refugees are just beginning to arrive here.

The donations, she said, are filling up the warehouse, and allowing volunteers to include these inexpensive but essential household items in the apartments being set up for the refugees who are arriving this week.  There are so many orders coming the volunteers had to postpone assembling the children’s welcome bags. These household items are more urgent.

And the need is still very great.

This is so important and will make such an enormous difference in their lives, many have suffered greatly getting here, and will be frightened and disoriented – and needy –  when they arrive, especially in the middle of an upstate New York winter. The volunteers have set up a special Amazon Page so it is simple to purchase these very inexpensive and practical items.

You can see them on the page, they range from $6 to $30. These new Americans need everything – sheets, blankets, towels, glasses, plates, teapots, coffee makers, towels, blenders. None of it is expensive, all of it is practical and essential.

This is very simple to do, I ordered a few things on the Amazon Page and it took me a little over a minute.

I am not seeking to enter the controversy over immigration raging around the country, these people are all here legally and are seeking nothing more than the peace and safety and opportunity that America has always meant to them.They are arriving this week, and I will be assigned a family to work with shortly.

As the descendant of immigrants – and who isn’t in America? – I relate to the challenges these families face in coming here. Most of them have left everything behind, or never had all that much. Anything you can do to help would be much appreciated and not forgotten. You can check it out here.

And thanks again for helping, or thinking of helping, or just reading this far. You are an Army Of Good. This is the kind of thing I mean to be doing all year, and beyond. Small acts of kindness and good. I will not be arguing my beliefs on Facebook or anywhere else.

This is not an exercise of the left or the right, but of good people who just want to do a bit of good. You can do good here. The need is great, you can make a difference and show these families what the true heart and soul of America is all about..