I took one load of clothes over to the Mansion today, I met with Hollyanne and Brittany, two of the very dedicated day staffers and we had a through discussion about who needed what. They know.

The clothes campaign became a little bit more complex in recent weeks, as we learned of several people who urgently needed clothes, including personal garments like underwear. This is a new twist for me and the Army Of Good and I like it, I’m figuring out how to do it effectively and economically.

Naturally, some of the residents are reluctant to talk about their personal items and needs, especially with me, so it took some time to figure everything out, and I don’t have much experience choosing women’s clothes and underwear and socks.

Learning what the residents need is an art. The staff is notoriously discreet, HIPPA privacy laws are strict and observed. I often don’t know for awhile if somebody is sick – Bill is in the hospital now, I don’t know any details – or even gone. I don’t generally even ask when I find a room empty, I’ll eventually figure it out.

There is a strange boundary around being a volunteer, and I’m comfortable with it. I’m a natural born outsider, and I like the freedom  of it. I’m a good guerrilla volunteer, I can often figure things out.

But I have to do it on my own, and I accept that, those are the rules. The staff can talk about clothes and other needs, at least to a degree. Even if I do learn of an illness, I can’t write about it unless I have the explicit permission of the resident and the approval of the staff.

I honor that. It’s sometimes hard on the people out there who are writing, because people just sometimes disappear or stop responding. I can’t tell them what’s going on, even if I know. It is one of those selfless things, we do it because we want to do it, there is nothing expected or demanded on the other end.

We made a lot of progress so far, we decided where the sweaters, winter jackets, sweat pants and shirts needed to go. Almost everyone has warn winter caps and sweaters. Only two or three now in real need of clothes.

We talked about who needed what and in what sizes, what personal tastes where, the staff is very much in sync with the people who live there, I’d hold up a sweater and Hollyanne or Brittany would say “I know who would love that,” or “I know who wouldn’t.” This is a good thing to be going on Christmas week, I got a few more requests today that I need to take care of.

We left the clothes with Hollyanne and Brittany to distribute, they are best coming from them in most cases. I did visit Ruth and Ken and gave her a necklace and him a sweater. They both go outside at least once a day together.

Maria came along with me to some of the thrift shops and helped get me started, I’m cruising along now.

It’s my goal to make sure everyone in the Mansion has the clothes they need by the end of the week, and like everything else I do, there is something wonderfully selfish about it: it makes me feel good.

Let the politicians and cable gasbags and warriors of the left and the right chew one another up, perhaps they will eat one another and spare us their unpleasantness. I’m going with good.

Tomorrow, I return to the Mansion with another two bags of clothes, and we’ll see where we stand. We are almost there and thanks for your support, without which this would not be happening.

Here is a newly updated lists of Mansion residents who would appreciate hearing from you. You can write to them c/o The Mansion, 11 S. Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

Winnie, Jean, Ellen, Mary, Gerry, Sylvie, Jane, Diane, Alice, Jean, Madeline, Joan, Allan, William, John K., Helen, Bob, Alanna, Barb, Peggie, Dorothy, Timothy, Debbie, Art, Guerda, Brenda, David, Kenneth, Ruth.

You can contribute to the Mansion work by sending a donation to me c/o P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816 or via Paypal, [email protected] Please mark your check “Mansion/Refugee Fund,” or one or the other.

All donations are sent to a special account monitored by a bookkeeper and a certified accountant. Every penny goes to the people who need it, there are no administrative or office fees.