Tomorrow, I will got to Albany to take a radio interview on behalf of my new book “Talking To Animals,” out May 5. Then Maria and I will drive over to Risse, the Refugee and Immigrant Support Services Center in that city to deliver 80 art kits to the refugee students in the RISSE  after school program.

You contributed more than $1,200 to Rachel Barlow, the Vermont artist, illustrator and painter who created this kids for traumatized, foster and refugee children, they are stuffed with pencils, crayons, sketchpads and ideas. They were carefully designed to ease stress and encourage voice and creativity.

Rachel started the draw.paint.create program a month ago, and she has raised more than $3,000 so far to create these kits and sent them out to refugee children and kids in foster care. She hopes to expand the program in the next weeks and months, I will be keeping you up to date about it.

Rachel has come up with something wonderful, she will join Maria and I at RISSE tomorrow when we drop off the kits. Maria and I went to Rachel’s home in Vermont today to help her put the kit together. You can check out the program or donate if you wish here. The Army Of Good has not wavered yet, and I thank you.

You can support Rachel’s expanding program here.

RISSE is doing extraordinary work on behalf of the refugees and immigrants who have come to America and are still coming, at least for now. RISSE offers English language training, day care, legal and financial counseling and help with paper and job searches. Last year, arsonists burned down their headquarters, which just re-opened. They need support.

I will be visiting them regularly, talking to them, figuring out what they need and assisting where I can. I will also be taking their photos, my mission is to show that they are human beings, just like the rest of us. They have suffered enough, I hope to help them see the true spirit of America, generous and welcoming.

If you wish, you can donate to RISSE here.