My grandmother said she fled Russia to come to America because people called it “The Golden Land,” they said there was so much wealth and opportunity in this beautiful country. She  loved America, but she didn’t find a lot of gold here. She and my grandfather worked seven days a week for 45 years running a Mom and Pop store in Providence, they both died in a Home For the Aged.

Still, she would have struggled to understand the lives of people like Georgina. Georgina is a new resident at the Mansion, she is fun, bright and very sharp. Before I met her, I was told by an aide that she could use some help. She had nothing to wear.

Georgina and I have become good friends, and she gave me permission to talk about her story a bit.

When I heard she needed things, I went to her and asked what she said. “I have nothing,” she said, “absolutely nothing.”

This is, for me, a Code Red. Nothing isn’t good, and I head for my network of thrift shops or online outlets.

People come to the Mansion for all sorts of reasons and at different times in their lives.

It’s  a Medicaid facility – they are rare – and that means they and their families can’t afford the private pay assisted care facilities, which can run from $3,000 to $6,000 a month. People pay for the care they want and need. Medicaid is well known for paying institutions and hospitals less than it costs to care for people.

And America is becoming well know for blaming the poor for bring poor. For people like Georgina, the Mansion is very important. She has nowhere else to go.

And none of her troubles have dampened a ready smile and an always ready sense of humor.

So these institutions have little to spare. I never ask for more details than I am given, and I don’t know why Georgina came with almost no clothes to the Mansion. Sometimes, I know, people need to leave their homes in a hurry – they can’t take care of things or relatives are shocked and alarmed by how they are living.

I don’t want to know Georgina’s back story, it isn’t my business. If she wants me to know, she’ll tell me, but I won’t share that part of the story. It’s not what I’m there to do.

The stories I do hear, like the stories the refugee children tell, can break the heart.

I went to one of my favorite Thrift Shops today – I knew this would cost a bit of money – and I told the good people there I needed pants, size 12 and matching shirts, large. I said I would also like some pajamas and nightshirts. I don’t know about bras and underwear, that will come later.

Thrift Shop people seem to get being poor and needy, they are always so empathetic and helpful. We went blazing through the racks and found elastic pants, blouses and shirts, sweaters and some fun clothes. Like Tweety Bird, with the inscription “You Are Getting Sleepy.” I got $71 worth of clothes in the Thrift Shop, and  Georgina has a new wardrobe. Most of the items cost $4, we filled a big bag of clothes.

I try to stay away from button or tight fitting pants, elastic pants are better. I lean towards large and blousy shirts.

That’s not a lot of money when it comes to helping people. But it makes a world of difference to them. Clothes are related to pride, dignity and socializing. They are important.

We went tearing through the racks like bargain hunters at discount outlets.

I  brought these clothes – some seemed brand new, they were all clean and in excellent condition – right over to the Mansion, Georgina was taking a nap in the Great Room.

I handed her the bag, and I said, “Georgina, here are enough clothes for a dozen changes of out fit. ” She went through them right away, piled them up, and said she loved them all.  She especially loved the Tweety Bird, as I suspected she might.

Everyone will smile when they see it. Next, I need to find out about personal garments and underclothes. The female residents rarely like to talk about that with me,  and I  have learned not to act – no reason to take their dignity away – but they are necessary. If people have nothing, then generally they need everything.

I love doing this work, as Georgina has sensed.

The cost is small, the scale is  very manageable. We can’t give Georgina her house or life back, or guarantee her health,  but we can easily make her comfortable and  have the clothes and personal items that she needs. We can give her her pride.

When I first ask the new residents like Georgina what they might need, they are guarded and wary. They don’t know who I am and what I am there for, and almost all of them are afraid that they will have to pay me for the things I bring them.

They are just not used to getting things for free, it makes them suspicious at first.

Sometimes it takes weeks or months for them to trust me, usually it happens when they see me more than once and the other residents explain who I am. Peggie told one new resident, “oh, you’ll like Jon and Red, it’s sort of like Santa and the Reindeers, only he comes all year. You just have to tell him what you need.”

I can’t give the residents everything they may want or need, I have to make choices and  use the money wisely, there is not a lot of it. But I can fill the small holes in their lives, thanks to the Army Of Good.

I never imagined being described as Santa, but I’ll take it.  “Thank you so much for these clothes,” Georgina  said, as I was leaving the Mansion. “It’s so good of you.”

“Thanks,” I said, “I love doing it.”

“I can see that,” she said. “You’re a sweet man,” she added as I walked away, “and the funny thing is, you are happy doing it.”

I’ll have to think about what she meant by that.