Ali and I met at our “office,” a convenience store booth is Schaghticoke, New York, halfway between Albany and Cambridge, my town. First, we made plans for the upcoming week, I’m going to Albany Thursday to meet with a refugee mother from African, she has nine children (several were adopted from refugee camps, their families were killed in civil wars and genocide campaigns).

She has a good job at a local hospital, but is living on the worst street in Albany, drug dealers have moved into her building, and she fears for her sons. She just needs help in managing the move, she doesn’t want any assistance beyond that.

She has found an apartment, she will need some help for a month or so for the deposit and to meet the higher cost. She has a good job and will be able to meet the rent payments in the future. I’ll meet her on Thursday. We also made plans for the soccer team – the are on vacation starting this coming Monday for ten days and Ali wants to keep them stimulated and busy and off the streets.

We walked about Hawah, Osmarosa, Lisa and Shasheen, and our plans to get them together to form a woman’s group. Ali is talking to them about it now, they seem excited. Next week, I’m meeting Lisa once more to see how we can  help her in additional ways through a difficult time.  Her husband was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan while he was driving food to Americans at an airbase there.

I want to support Ali in this planning for the soccer team. It is important.

I’ve arranged a boat ride on Lake George, a trip to an Animal Park in the Adirondacks, a movie (Invincibles 2) and a trip to Bedlam Farm. While here, the team will come to the farm, see the animals, have lunch at the Round House, visit the Mansion residents, with whom they have bonded, and they have asked to visit Ed Gulley, who they met some weeks ago, before he was diagnosed with cancer.

I’m negotiating with the Great Adventure amusement park in Lake George for a one-day outing for the team in July.

We have also found some free parks with pools in the Albany area that they can visit on hot days. Ali needs a new smart phone, his is falling apart from continuous use, we are exploring special trade-in and other deals. There are great special orders, but I’d like to help him do it.

I turned over 20 books on “Smart Soccer For Kids” for him to give to the team, and three canister sprays of cold treatment for bruises and cuts. I got him a first aid kit last wee. New “Albany Warriors” baseball caps are coming on Monday.

I love meeting Ali there, he sets the scene, shouting and  waving his arms when he gets excited, he is a presence. So, I suppose am I. They are getting used to us there, they even vacate our table when we come.

If you would care to support this refugee work, we can use the help. You can contribute to Gus Fund, c/o Jon Katz, P.O.Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816., or via Paypal, [email protected].