“When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That’s my religion.”- Abraham Lincoln.
I want to thank the two readers of this blog who together donated $30,000 to RISSE, the refugee and immigrant support center in Albany, N.Y. One donated $20,000, the other $10,000. I am not at liberty to reveal their names.
On top of those donations, the Army Of Good donated many thousands of dollars in clothes – boots and socks and underwear, shirts and jackets and winter clothes – and hundreds of dollars more from RISSE’s new Amazon Wish List Page.
RISSE is where refugee and immigrant families to go get help with English, taxes, citizenship requirements, finances and job seeking. RISSE offers a critically needed after school program where children get hot meals, classes, and a chance to play games. They do amazing work in the face of great challenges.
Their headquarters was burned to the ground by arsonists last year, their federal subsidies are being slashed or eliminated – they lost more than $70,000 in tuition grants for their students last year alone.
The children also face a growing number of taunts and racist insults as they go to school and play in their neighborhoods.
Your contributions are desperately needed and greatly appreciated. The families are RISSE are seeing the true soul and spirit of America. I thank you for your support of RISSE and also for the supplemental work I do with the young men and women of RISSE, trying to fill some of the growing holes in RISSE’s resources.
If you wish to contribute to RISSE directly, you can do so here. Or you can send a gift from the Wish List for as little as $6.
If you wish to support my work with these refugee children and adults – from the soccer team to the girl’s basketball team to the carver Maulidi to families in need of food – you can send your contribution to the Refugee Fund, c/o Jon Katz, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y. 12816, or a donation via Paypal, [email protected].
Thanks again to the very good people who wrote those big checks to a worthy cause. They will do more good than you know – RISSE needs everything at this critical time – from money to pay teachers to school supplies and equipment – for America’s new citizens.
I think all of us are fighting for America’s soul right now. These kids are it.
wow, I am dumbstruck…….but not surprised at the tenacity of your Army. How generous and good are these kind and warm souls who donated to RiSSE in that amount? Blessings to them……and to the amount of good this will do. This brought tears to my eyes…… See what a wonderful thing you have started, Jon? Susan M
Jon – It might be worth noting that RISSE serves, roughly, 200 families/1,000 adults and children each year. I learned that from Cheryl Lasher, Development Director, last week when I called RISSE to discuss a clothing donation. RISSE’s arms reach far and wide. As closely as I follow your blog, I had no idea of the vast number of folks they are helping. (And, BTW, Cheryl is surely excited about the boys’ soccer team.)
Thanks Linda, I’ve noted that many times, but it never hurts to mention it again. thanks for your support.
Dear Jon, you are so much more powerful than you want to believe…yes the pen is mightier than the sword…and your blog proves it over and over..from animals, to the seniors, to the new residents of our beloved America, to those who have easy access to the little library books, on and on..I have not covered it all but think you get my drift. Kudos to you and your dear Maria. (oops, to those in the countries far away that Maria cares so much about too).