Sue Silverstein was thoughtful enough to send me photos of Issachar and Asher, two Pakistani refugees at the Bishop Maginn School in Albany, in their new sneakers, red and blue respectively.
As many of you know, sneakers are a big deal to boys in school. I am happy to see them on these feet, and thanks to the Army Of Good once more for filling in some of the holes in life for these refugee children.
They have not received many gifts in their lives. Tomorrow, I’m going to Bishop Maginn again to see these kids – I admit I missed them – and meet with Sue and Mike Tolan, the principal.
A crew from the school is coming to the farm soon to meet the donkeys and see Red work a bit. Maybe they can see Bud work also, and Fate will do her thing.
We are very happy with the results of the Bishop Maginn High School Amazon Wish List, the newest version. Three laptops to go on this list, four microscopes and about a dozen books for summer reading.
The school has received nine or ten Acer Chrome laptops (price has been lowered to $202 apiece) and four microscopes $89. The ultimate goal is 26 laptops (we’re only putting up a few at a time) and 20 microscopes. Yesterday the first microscope arrived, the first one at the school that is working.
I am told the science students were ecstatic.
In the scheme of things, these things are small, in the life of this school, they are enormous. We will some of the holes in life, we can’t work miracles or transform lives, or wash away suffering.
But we can bring light and laughter and learning into a place that wants those things desperately. Bishop Maginn has a great spirit within. I’m going to see Blue tomorrow and perhaps get another painting to sell. All of hers have sold on the blog.
If you wish to support small acts of kindness for the artist Blue and Paw Lway Shee, you can contribute to me via Paypal, [email protected], or to my P.O. Box, Jon Katz. P. O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.
If you to contribute directly to the school, you can send a check or money order to Mike Tolan, Principal, Bishop Maginn High School, 75 Park Avenue, Albany, N.Y., 12202.
Contributions to the school are tax-deductible.