It takes a very special kind of person to work at the Mansion. I learned yesterday that three of the Mansion staff logged out after their workday several times this week and went to a nearby extreme care facility to visit two of the Mansion residents who had been hospitalized. This happens again and again, the staff’s dedication to the residents transcends hours and pay.

The word is getting around, the Mansion now has a waiting list of people who want to come there, and who insist on returning they after their hospital and nursing home visits. It is not simple to run a Medicaid facility, but you can feel the ethos of care and concern that permeates the Mansion, that feeling was what first drew me to the place. They care.

I am struggling this week to figure out how to help the Mansion residents who need some clothes for the winter, and in general. I met a couple who moved to the Mansion recently and who arrived with three Wal-Mart bags and nothing else. The staff went out and bought them some clothes,and I have been bringing them some clothes.

Getting clothes for the Mansion residents is a bit tricky. Most of them have enough clothes, only four or five need clothes by my reckoning. The staff will usually tip me off if someone’s  clothing needs are urgent. I don’t call for a general clothing drive because the Army of Good will send far more clothes than are needed, and it is difficult for people far away to know what is needed and get the right sizes.

I brought Ken, above, some sweaters, he had no winter clothing.

I think clothes is such a personal thing that I can – sometimes with staff help – get to a thrift shop or go online and get the clothes that are needed. Again, most residents have what they need.

This week, I’ve been distributing wool hats and scarves, and a few sweaters and jackets. I know of two people in real need for clothes and I’ll see if I can take care of that this weekend.

Tomorrow, I’m bringing Art a collection of Bible stories. I’m bringing Bill two books by Armistead Maupin,  the gay writer who has chronicled life in San Francisco for some years. I am distributing scarves tomorrow to people who want them..

Clothes are not expensive around here, and I think I have a good fix now on what’s needed. Our winters are severe, and it is important that the residents be able to go outside and walk. The right winter clothes make that possible.

Lots of good stuff coming up in the Mansion. Saturday, we are taking a van load of people to the Hubbard Hall Arts Center’s annual Christmas breakfast.. Next week, the annual Christmas Party will be on the 14th, the Sleigh Ride on the 15th. I met with Morgan Jones, the new Mansion Director today and I proposed a pizza lunch to welcome the New Year. She loved the idea.

Thanks for your support of this work, we are touching and changing lives. If you wish to support the Mansion aid program, you can send donations to my post office box, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816, or via Paypal, [email protected]. There is currently $1,100 in the  Mansion/Refugee account. Please mark donations as “Mansion/Refugee Fund.” Thanks.

Tomorrow afternoon, I’m going to Albany to meet with Mawulidi Diodone Majaliwa, to give him the money for his carvings and also to present RISSE, the refugee and immigrant support center in Albany,  with a check for 25 per cent of his carving earnings, at his request. I hope to return with additional carvings to sell before Christmas.

It has been a good week for the Mansion residents, and a good week for Mawulidi, a refugee from the Congo.