As I meet the RISSE teachers and administrators and kids and adults in their programs, I’ve become increasingly aware of their urgent need for winter clothing.

Winter is approaching in upstate New York – the first for many of the refugees and immigrants and their children. The winters here can be brutal, proper clothing is essential.

Federal subsidies have been slashed or are disappearing altogether and many of the people I am meeting and getting to know simply don’t have clothes for the frigid upstate winters. Many of the adults and their sons and daughters don’t have boots, only flip-flops and sneakers.

In this part of the country, children who don’t have snow pants can’t go outside to play.

So many of the refugees and immigrants come from Africa, Asia and the Middle East, they have no experience of Northeast winters. And they have little or no money to buy winter clothes.

The refugees came to America to escape hardship, starvation, natural disasters and violence. Most of them came with nothing, and they need everything. I think this request is very important. I know a specialty of the Army Of Good is getting clothes and necessities to people in need, I’ve seen it all year.

This week, I asked the RISSE officials if it was all right for me to summon the launch a winter clothing campaign on my blog and launch a major winter clothing campaign for the refugees and immigrants starting out in America.

They were thrilled. They will eagerly accepted donated or purchased clothes, or direct donations.

All clothing should be sent to RISSE Winter Clothing, RISSE, 715 Morris Street, Albany, N.Y., 12208.

This is urgent, the hard winter is just weeks ago. The children and adults of RISSE need winter clothing – sweaters, jackets, winter socks, long underwear,  winter boots. The children in particular need snow pants, sweatshirts, sweaters, winter wool caps, jackets and scarves.

For the women – most of the adult refugees are female – the sizes should be smallish. People can send used clothing if it is clean and in good shape. This morning, Susan Popper, a supporter of good deeds, messaged me to tell me about swap.com, the country’s largest consignment and thrift store site, she said she used swap.com to buy winter clothing for the RISSE campaign.

She said the prices were good, she bought 11 jackets and sweaters for under $100, and the site offered free shipping. Amazon also offers winter clothing for women and children at low prices. i purchased fleece jackets and winter socks on Amazon and sent them to RISSE.

In addition to sending used boots, sweaters and clothing, you can donate directly to RISSE, they accept Paypal and major credit cards.

I’ve seen firsthand what this group of generous spirits can do, I hope you can help the RISSE adults and children in need of this help during their first winter on American soil. I hope we can once again show them the true heart and soul of America.

Once again, you can send new or old clothes to  RISSE, Winter Clothes, 715 Morris Street, Albany, N.Y., 12208.

I will keep this campaign going on my end until everyone has the clothes they need for winter. The refugees face enough difficulties without freezing. Thanks much.