Once or twice a week, I drive into Albany to see the refugee and immigrant kids and parents, visit the teachers, take photos of the transformation of the RISSE after school classrooms, sit down with Ali, plan outings and activities. Today, some special things are on the agenda.

An eight-year-old boy from Afghanistan who lost his father there and now lives in America with his mother and sister has wanted a digital camera for a long time, it is the only birthday present he wished for. I’m bringing him a well-made V Tech beginner’s digital camera, I think it will be perfect for him.

And I’m getting three more, one for each of the classrooms at RISSE. I’ll give them to the teachers, so they and their students can record the wonderful work they are doing with your gifts from the RISSE Amazon Wish List.

Then Ali and I will sit down and talk about the outings we would like to plan for next week, when the RISSE school is closed for Easter. Ali is untiring, he wants them to have activities constantly, even when school is out. I completely support that idea, it is paying off in many ways.

We’re talking to a trampoline playland, and a skating rink about the cost of using their facilities, and we have already arranged some time in the Sportsplex indoor soccer stadium.

We’re planning a birthday party for one of the soccer team players, he scored six goals in the team’s whopping 15-0 victory Sunday in their indoor soccer tournament. This should fill up their week.

Next Friday, April 6, the RISSE kids are coming to the Mansion in Cambridge, to help prepare and serve food for the residents. There will be a special program where the kids and the residents exchange the stories of their lives. The boys are mostly very shy, and I have promised to stand alongside each of them as they get up and talk. That will be a special day.

And I’ll be taking photos of the gifts and lamps and chairs and trash cans and games and puzzles pouring into the school from the Wish List. Everyone at the school is grateful for your gifts, and eager to show you how they are being used. Today’s list is special, some food containers to keep lunches cold and safe, and some coloring books that are much loved and quite inexpensive.

You can help this kids for as little as $4.

The food containers are $69 for several. These trips are so important to me, they help me define my life.