I honestly can’t think of a more suitable thing to do on July 4th than to honor our country and ourselves by announcing the Bishop Maginn High School School Supplies Campaign.

“Independence is my happiness,” wrote Thomas Paine, “and I view things as they are, without regard to place or person; my country is the world, and my religion is to do good.”

That is my faith as well, and it is the spirit and ethos spirit of Joseph Maginn, guided by it’s compassionate and courageous principal, Mike Tolan. The generosity of faith, of Christianity, does survive, it shines every day at Bishop Maginn.

We put up 13 different items on the Bishop Maginn School Supplies Wish List yesterday, they range in price from $5 to $18. This morning, I kicked off the campaign by buying a box of pencils for $13.49.

There are many beautiful and not-so-beautiful things about America and its history, perhaps the best known phrase associated with liberty is the one on the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddle masses yearning to be free…”

It was written then about refugees, and it is just as apt now, it permeates the Bishop Maginn High School. For me, nothing could be more patriotic than helping these poor children get school supplies. Mike Tolan says half the new students in September will have no money to buy any school supplies.

I hope we can fix that, this campaign begins today and right here. I know this is a holiday and there are not a lot of people online right now. Speaking for myself, I’d rather buy some pencils or a backpack that watch some tanks roll by the Lincoln Memorial.

It’s basic stuff – pens and pencils, erasers and rulers, glue sticks highlighters and backpacks. In fact, the most expensive items on the list are backpacks, for $18.99 apiece. (They need 20)

Bishop Maginn is an urban Catholic High School in Albany, N.Y., Like many Catholic institutions, this has been a hard time for the school, and for its faculty and  students. In recent years, the school has opened its hearts and classrooms to refugee children, newly arrived in America, and often struggling. Most of these families have many jobs but no money.

The school doesn’t have much either, in part because they accept the poorest and the neediest children. I am very proud to be helping them.

The school has become a cherished refuge with a dedicated, hard-working and  underpaid  faculty.

They had no computers, no microscopes, no art program, no music program. We have raised funds so far for a new and revived choir, we’ve purchased art supplies for the resurgent art program, we are buying the school’s first laptops (26 of them for a computer room), we have inspired the school to put up an Amazon Wish List, already successful.

We’ve got them the microscopes they need, and I’m determined to get them the 10 remaining laptops they need for their computer room.

I’m thinking a lot about these kids when they come to school in September. My wish and plan is for there to be enough school supplies so every child who needs a pen or pencil or eraser or backpack will have one.

I’m launching the campaign over the summer. I’m going to buy one thing a day, I hope you all will consider buying what you can afford when you can afford it.

You can buy the supplies directly off of the Wish List. If you need it, the school address is Bishop Maginn High School, 75 Park Avenue, Albany, N.Y., 12202.

You can also send a contribution directly to the school, c/0 Mike Tolan,  Bishop Maginn High School, 75 Park Avenue, Albany, N.Y.  12202. All contributions to the school are tax-deductible.

If you prefer, you can also send your donations – large or small – to me directly and I will use the money to make purchases from the Wish List every day. Nothing would make me happier than to have some moneyt to spend on that list. My summer pleasure will be to watch the number of items on the list disappear.

I can’t think of a better way to start the day. (Thanks Sally, for sending money for hats for Asher and Issachar.)

You can send money to me via Paypal, [email protected], or by check Jon Katz, Mansion/Refugee Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. Larger contributions get things moving. Small ones really matter.

We are not about soldiers and tanks, we are about opening our hearts and souls to the dreamers and innocent victims and pilgrims who come her to share in the American Dream. It takes strong and enterprising people to survive what these children have survived and get themselves to America.

To me, this is very much in the true spirit of America. I am proud to live in a country that has always helped refugees and I know will help these children – they have suffered enough to get here – the most basic school supplies, so they can learn.

Thanks, Army Of Good, and Happy July 4th.

You can check out the Bishop Maginn School Supplies Wish List here.