This is a thank you to the Army Of Good for the very special Christmas  you have brought to the Mansion residents and the aides who work there.

Last night, while I was doing my radio show, “Talking To Animals,” at WBTN, two boxes arrived from UPS.

They were special styrofoam boxes with dry ice inside, one box contained cookies and biscotti, another a gorgeous piece of gourmet cheesecake, it came from Ferrara’s the famous Italian bakery in Little Italy, in Manhattan.

Eileen Petersen, a member of the Army Of Good from Los Angeles, had ordered the food and send it to Thomas Toscano, the director of the radio station.

He said it was too much food for him to eat, I asked him if he might part with any of it so I could bring it to the Mansion as part of their Christmas celebration.

Thomas loved the idea, and Eileen called the show at that moment, as it happened,  to talk about dogs but also to say it was fine with her if some of the food went to the Mansion.

I love how this network of good energy works. This has been a wonderful Christmas so far for the Mansion, and I wanted to pause for a moment to thank you all for making it possible.

-First, we bought a Karaoke machine we are  using to sing Christmas carols, the residents gather around a table in the Great Room and we sing together, a beautiful coming together. Before, they could only listen to other people singing.

-I brought holiday cookies to the Mansion aides once a week all through the holidays – beautiful Round House Cafe cookies – and I’m bringing another batch today.

-We bought $50 Amazon Gift Cards for each one of the Mansion aides, an effort to recognize their extraordinary work and commitment.

-We bought gift bags for the aides – buttons, jewelry, bracelets, spirit animal statues.

-We distributed $200 to the residents so they could buy gifts for one another and for the aides if they chose.

-We spent $250 making sure every resident had the right winter clothes – socks, underwear, shoes, flannel nightgowns and pajamas, bras and wool caps.

-I began a weekly reading program at the Mansion, starting with Christmas stories and poems.

-We are going to the Mansion Christmas morning to sing with the residents, tell them stories, share gifts.

-I found a used book store that sold me a few stacks of children’s books for the kids of the Mansion aides.

-The Army Of Good sent boxes of  decorations, gift, stocking stuffers, cookies, candy canes and favors, many home-made crafts. They sent scores of cards and messages to the residents. Many of their gifts will be distributed on Christmas morning.

This was a great Christmas for the residents, it’s not quite over yet.

I just wanted to make sure to thank you and I wanted you to know what you have done.  I feel we have embraced the spirit of Christmas in the most beautiful way.