I think it’s time once again to talk about how best to help the Mansion residents, as we are doing a lot of things and there is always a bit of confusion. I should do this more often, there are so many good people out there in the Army Of Good who want to help.
The easiest ways to help the Mansion residents are free and inexpensive.
You can write them letters, send them photos and stories of your life. You can send them crafts and favors and cards for holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. They love your gifts and the packages they open on holidays, they look forward to them all year. Please consider continuing the wonderful tradition of sending home made and ofter crafts, cut outs, pin-ups and gifts like soap and cookies.
(Note, many of the residents need sugar free foods.)
You can also check in every now and then on the Amazon Mansion Wish List.
(I’m also going ahead with plans to give a $50 Amazon Gift Card to each of the aides in the Mansion. It looks like $650 for 13 aides. If you wish to contribute, send a donation to me Jon Katz, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., or via Paypal, [email protected]. Mark the payment “Gift Cards.” They deserve it, and they could use the money.)
It’s empty at the moment, but it will soon have items again.
Other ways to help.
It is almost never a good idea to send used or old things from your homes to me or the Mansion. The residents require a different system than is customary for giving to charity.
It’s not like helping the poor or the homeless, the Mansion residents are not penniless or without any resources and all of the residents don’t need everything.
Since it’s a Medicaid facility that doesn’t draw wealthy people, the residents often run out of their monthly allowances, and sometimes don’t have the money to buy specialized clothing that they find themselves suddenly needing: special shoes, worn out slippers, special-size clothes like underwear, bras, sweatshirts or nightgowns.
Much of the time, it’s the aides who spot the needs and pass them along to me, the residents often don’t notice their shoes are falling apart, or can’t imagine anyone would help them buy new ones.
But they are not destitute, and do not need all need boxes of old clothes or slippers, their needs are specialized. One at a time.
It isn’t like the Salvation Army, where they take everything. We can’t.
If one needs a nightgown, it doesn’t mean everyone does And almost all of the residents require special order clothing due to medical conditions or size.
The used clothes in your attic are not likely to fit anyone at the Mansion. Same with used books. Many residents can’t read books for health reasons or need large print or other special kinds of books.
I also have to admit to my own prejudice, I have come to prefer buying them new clothes that I can see and the staff can see before it is given to the residents. Some of the stuff that has come to us without our knowledge is not in good shape. I won’t pass those things along.
Some have allergies to dust or mites, and require certain fabrics. Some of the Mansion residents are frail and don’t need new or different clothes, they don’t go out of their rooms too often, and can’t go far.
In special cases, I always ask for help. When Peggie needed a new laptop, I put it out on the blog, and a wonderful angel sent along her slightly used one, and it works beautifully. I don’t have the funds to buy a new laptop, and so I put it out there. That hasn’t failed me yet.
I believe the most efficient way to help the residents, other than the choices I mentioned, is also to contribute to the Mansion fund. When a resident asks me for a special shirt, usually a special size or material, I buy it instantly using the Mansion Fund, which usually holds between $700 and $1,500 dollars. I don’t like to have money sitting around, so I use it quickly and, of course account for it.
The fund is audited every month by a bookkeeper and also by a New York City accounting firm. I disclose every purchase.
Once or twice a week, the Mansion staff meets to talk about the residents needs, and they will often give me a list of items that the staff requests. Sometimes the Mansion staff will use their own money, most of the time they bring the list to me.
I now have a network of trusted stores online and trusted Thrift Shops in the area. I know they will find me high-quality and clean clothes if I can’t get them new and online.
I have the items shipped to me at the farm and I bring them to the Mansion, usually making three or four trips a week. I know, for example, that as of now, the residents say they have what they need for the winter. This will change as the snow arrives and their personal and clothing needs change and become more urgent.
If I have the money in the account – the requests are never large – I will pay for it from the donations of the Army Of Good, or sometimes, my own money. If I don’t, I will ask for help on the blog.
This has been the most reliable and efficient way of helping the residents. They get what they need, and they get new and appropriate clothing or other personal items.
We only collect what is asked for, I never guess about what they might need. That’s the problem with donating old things.
You can send a contribution to that fund by writing me, Jon Katz, c/o P.O.Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816, or via Paypal, [email protected]. Mostly, these are small donations. They add up. Today, there is $875 in the account.
Sending your old things is a crapshoot really, it just means that Maria and I or the staff have to spend time donating most of it to local charities. I know it comes from a good place, but I want to help you help the residents in a way that is useful.
If you look at the photograph above, I put out this week’s purchases for the residents, it might help to understand how this works well.
On the left, in the white package are Fall shoes for Joan. She has a special foot size and needs pull-ons, no laces. They must have side soles to prevent falling, and lined interiors for warmth. It took me an hour to find them online, she cannot wear store-bought shoes.
Next is a box of pens engraved: “To The Unsung Heroes Of The Mansion, The Staff, Thank you.” There are 50 pens in the box. To the immediate right is a winter jacket for Wayne, so he can get outside in his wheelchair. He asked me for the jacket on Monday, he is not able to go outside.
But I checked, and no other person at the Mansion needs a winter jacket. Wayne, who moves in a wheelchair, also needs a special kind of jacket.
To the right to of that are nightgowns for Ruth, she has a very particular size requirement, and special materials for her allergies. At the moment, she has no appropriate nightclothes, and it’s getting cold.
Those are all special orders, all requested earlier in the week. I think this system works.
I hope we can focus again this year on materials so the residents can celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas. Your creativity and energy seem boundless and loving. You can send holiday items – cards, odd trinkets, costume jewelry, funny hats, cookies and stocking-stuffers to Julie, c/o The Mansion, 11 S. Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.
The holidays can be lonely times for these people, you have brightened them so much. And I thank you so much. We have transformed the lives of the Mansion residents.