At the Mansion, I am always on the prowl to learn of the resident’s needs. Guerta is a tough nut, she only speaks Creole and generally refuses to ask for anything.  I try to move quietly and fill the holes in people’s lives there. Some people are eager for help, some people ruin from it.

I heard from three people that she urgently needed shoes and was waiting for a monthly Social Security check to get them.

Here shoes, I was told, were falling apart.  They were old and worn and causing her feet some pain.

I wasn’t sure  Guerta would accept a gift of shoes – she is fiercely proud – so I found out her size, ordered a pair of black sneakers online, and had them shipped to the farm. I brought them into the Mansion today and gave them to an aide,  who took them to her room.

A few minutes later, she came walking down the hall beaming and speaking excitedly (in Creole.) Two of the aides ratted me out and pointed to me, and said “he bought the shoes,” and Guerta came up to me beaming and asked me “how much can I pay you.”

Nothing, I said, they are from the Army of Good and she smiled and looked a bit puzzled. “Thank you, thank you,” she said. After we left, I had this flash, I realized there were no books in Creole for Guerta to read, so I went online and found two: Janjak and Freda Go to the Iron Market, Creole Edition, by Elizabeth Turnbull, and The Coconut Tree (Pye Kokoye, Haitian Edition, Creole  Edition.) They”ll be here by the end of the week. They cost $26.65. The walking shoes cost $63.50.

I think the books will make a big difference to her.

This is a good example of the work we do, small acts of great kindness. I’ve never  seen Guerta smile like that. If you want to support my work, you can send a contribution to The Gus Fund, , Jon Katz, P.O.  Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816, or via Paypal, [email protected]. Please mark your checks “The Mansion.” Thanks.

(This afternoon, a resident asked if she could speak privately with me, she looked stricken. She said the government says she owes them $8,000  from social security overpayments and  has cut off her monthly payments, the only money she receives at the Mansion. I read the letter, and it seemed outrageous to me that the government would penalize  her for their  error, and cut off her funds.

She lives in assisted care, there is no way she can pay the money back.

A member of the staff is taking her to the IRS next week to talk to someone in person, she has been unable to reach anyone on the telephone.  She has a family, and they are involved, but she is angry and terrified. She has help, I don’t  believe she needs any further help from us, at least not now. She has the name of a lawyer if she needs one, It is difficult to see her feel so powerless. It was great to see Guerda so happy)