(Tiffany, Tia, Red and I visit Sylvie in her temporary home)

The Mansion had to evacuate most of its residents on Tuesday night, they experienced sudden and serious water problems from leaks from the roof and damaged pipes.

Fire and police and state officials swarmed all over the Mansion, and it was decided to get the residents from the main part of the building to other assisted care and nursing facilities quickly.

I don’t know the details, but there was considerable water damage in some parts of the building, crews are scrambling to get the building in shape so that the residents can come home.

The residents were taken out in a rush, mostly at night, they are in Hoosick Falls at the Danforth Adult Care Center.  They are confused and frightened.

One wing of the Mansion building was not affected, and a half-dozen residents remained. They asked if I could do a bingo game Friday night, I said yes, Maria and I will be there.

This was a traumatic event for many of them, they love the Mansion, they are comfortable there,  and see it as their home. Their routines and understanding was turned upside down. Many are terrified that they can’t return. I told them they can and will.

Red and I went to the Danforth Center – it’s about 15 miles from the Mansion.

TIffany, a Mansion aide, met us coming in and showed us where all the residents were. The Mansion staff is caring for their residents at the Danforth, that is a great comfort to them, people who are familiar and who love them.

I’ve done therapy work at the Danforth with Red, it is a clean and comfortable and well run place, but the Mansion is unique, there is a warm and loving atmosphere about it that I have not seen elsewhere, the residents miss it very much.

Some are just bewildered.

Whenever I go somewhere else, I appreciate what is special about the Mansion, and why I feel so comfortable there.

I have to say I was deeply affected at how glad the residents were to see me, and to see Red. There were shouts of “Jon Katz is here, Red is here!” and I understood how much it meant to them to see a familiar face. I reassured them that they would return home soon, that this was a temporary move, not a permanent one.

They peppered me with questions, most of which I couldn’t answer, but our presence was clearly reassuring. In this work, there is nothing more important than just showing up. It sometimes seems to them that the rest of the world has forgotten about them.

I was reminded that this is important work, and it matters, never more so than when something like this happens. I saw today how important this work is.

I am asking everyone – staff and residents – what we can do for them. I’m putting a list together.

Sylvie was  very much shaken by the move, she even hugged Red, which is against her religious beliefs, and asked me to sit with her, which I did. I’m bringing her pens, paper and stamps tomorrow.

“Jon, I feel so awful,” she said. “I feel sick.” She misses her tote bags, I know her room was damaged, but not how seriously.

I’m bringing her religious literature to her, she left them behind in the rush.  One of her fellow church goers had rushed to the Danforth to visit with her.

I think I will need some fund-raising help.

Some of the residents may need some new things, there was some considerable water damage in a number of rooms. I’d also like to cheer them up with sugar-free cookies, some large type books, possibly some new clothes, a few flowers,  they might need some new things for their rooms.

All of the residents asked me when they could come home, and if they can come home. All I could tell them was that they will be coming home, perhaps in a few days, perhaps longer. I don’t think anybody really knows yet.

This is a difficult time for frail and elderly people at the edge of life, clinging to safety and routines.

I deliberately didn’t fund  raise much during the holidays, we did a lot during December.

I wanted to give people a break, but I’d like to be able to support these people, this is an hour of need for sure. The Mansion fund now has about $300 in it.

I can’t say precisely what I will need, that will be revealed,  but I’m going to canvass everybody to see if and how we can support them, including the staff, they are also upset and their lives upended. Perhaps some flowers when the time comes, perhaps some stuffed animals, even some brightly colored hats.

Red and I went to the Mansion this evening, Kelly is on duty with the five or six residents who remain. Diane has left the Mansion and will not be returning, Matt is in the hospital. Ruth and Wayne were in the dining room, holding hands, their roofs were not affected.

Please don’t sent any packages or gifts directly to the Mansion right now, the staff is overwhelmed with the work they need to do to re-settle everyone, and I’m not sure precisely what they will need. Letters will be appreciated, I won’t know the exact names to send letters to for a few days.

Sylvie told me she was praying to Jehovah to get her back home to the Mansion, she is a devout Jehovah’s witness. We prayed together. It was hard for me to see the residents so upset, Red was remarkable, he picked up on the tension and went to work, he is a canine empath.

Tia and Tiffany were quite wonderful, attentive, professional, calming.

I saw brother Peter and Art,  they both seemed in shock. So did Alanna and Alice. Jean, they told me, spend the entire day sitting in her darkened room with her baby doll. I sat with her, she seemed lost but never let go of her baby. “At least she’s safe,” she told me.

There’s a lot I don’t know.

When the residents will return, how many, or over what time period. I think they will need some routine and brightening up. Several asked me if we could do some Karaoke singing at the Danforth, but that’s not feasible. I was surprised how many of the residents thought about that.

So I’d like to help out if I can. I don’t need to deal with the large things, the Mansion will take care of that. I want to deal with the small things, the inexpensive things, the small acts of great kindness. Any help would be appreciated..

If you can help, please send  your contribution to me, Jon Katz, The Mansion Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816, or via Paypal, [email protected]. You can also contribute by clicking on the button below, “Support The Army Of Good.” Just put “Mansion” somewhere on your checks or messages.

The money will go where it is supposed to go.

Thanks much.