Isaachar and Asher’s story is a heartbreaking one, and I wish I could tell you about it, but I can’t. I can say these two courteous, bright,  and intensely social brothers – they are twins from Pakistan – have suffered cruelly and for a long time.

Some of the stories these refugee children  tell me leave me speechless and in shock at the bravery and resilience of these young refugee people. It hurts my heart to hear people call them names and suggest they are here to rob us or take our jobs.

These two are so happy to be in America, they are so eager to be good and successful citizens.

Bishop Maginn has been a life-saver for the twins. Issacher is charismatic and funny – he loves to tell jokes – and Asher is quieter, but not quiet.

They are a lot of fun,, smart and articulate. I told Maria I would adopt them in a flash if they were looking for a home (they are not.) They live with their mother, who has quite literally saved them, and who is working hard and studying to be a nurse.

Their father is not living at home.

They wish to honor her – they love and admire her greatly –  by pursuing some of the dreams she was not able to pursue and some of the awful sacrifices she had to make for them.

I got to know them because Mike Tolan, the principal of Bishop Maginn High School, asked me to help raise some tuition money for the twins. They can’t afford the full tuition of $7,000 a year, and the school doesn’t toss kids out for lack of funds.

At the same time, the school is greatly in need of money. The two things are related. They are flexible on tuition, they have little money to spend on the school.

I met the twins twice now, and I’m still fumbling the pronunciation of their names. I apologized and told them I was dyslexic, and one said “oh, that’s okay,” and the other said, “wow, cool!” I love these two.

They love their Honey Oats cereal. Their teachers say they are wonderful students and classmates, they are much loved and well cared for at the school. They need to stay there. I need to help them.

To date, we have raised $5,000 towards their tuition (thanks Kathleen), we need a good deal more to secure their position at the  school to get them through to college. Contributions to them and the school are tax-deductible, the school will mail donors a receipt for tax purposes.

Over the next  few years, I’d like to raise $9,000 for them, we have time.

We might need more, but one step at a time.

Mike Tolan assures me they will remain at the school, no matter what. If you can, please contribute directly to the school: Mike Tolan, Principal, Bishop Maginn High School, 75 Park Avenue, Albany, New York, 12202.

Please mark it for Issachar and Asher. It is tax deductible

This school needs to survive – it is a last and safe resort for many refugee children – and Issachar and Ashar want very badly to stay. It is wonderful that they don’t turn refugee children away for money, but hard on the school budget and supplies and salaries.

Thanks for your help in re-starting their arts and music program and starting a choir. And for helping Issachar and Asher stay in school.