Listening to weather forecasts, I started worrying about the Mansion residents this morning. I went over there twice to see if anyone needed anything. I called several times.

I bought John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart DVDs to Jim, who was sitting outside on the porch chatting to Georgina. He loves being outside, even in the heat, and he loves old Westerns. I bought a light shirt for Wayne, three sets of summer pajamas, and a sack full of summer blouses from a thrift shop.

Georgina said she had everything that she needed, she was just looking for a man, and she winked at me. I like Georgina, she is feisty and has a quick and sure sense of humor.

It was nice seeing them out there, chatting. They have become friends.

I have been working with the elderly for some years now, and one thing the weather people say that is not hype is that this kind of heat is very dangerous to the elderly, they are almost always the bulk of its victims.

The Mansion is quite aware of that and makes sure people get water and rest there. I was worried.

But the residents weren’t.

Peggie yelled at me for getting her the wrong books, she wanted Word Search books, not word crossword puzzles. I got a computer game for the son of one of the Mansion aides, and a stuffed pig for the daughter of another.

I am conscious of the hard work these people do, and the low pay they earn, and I am careful to include them in my idea of helping out at the Mansion. They are quite heroic to me, calm and patient and caring.

I try to help them when I can, from buttons to cookies to things for their children.  Small things. Sometimes, I come across clothes that don’t fit the residents, and I give the aides first crack. They are happy to see them and get them.

Over the last few weeks, I bought some light pants and shorts and light nightshirts and T-shirts and sandals for the residents who needed them for the warm weather.

The Army Of Good has purchased a series of room air conditioners over the past two years  – everyone who wants or needs one has one – and the residents are especially grateful, the old wooden building can get very warm, especially in this heat.

I remember how hot those rooms were, and I could almost feel how they would have been today.

I was glad we got a window air conditioner for the aide’s office, I had the sense everyone was well, the air conditioners are especially important to elderly people, who are at particular risk in heat storms like this one.

The Army Of Good also purchased an 8,000 BTU unit for the Mansion kitchen, the cooks and staff were boiling in there in the summer. All in all, we purchased more than 12 indoor units.

It feels good to go over there. The new residents are figuring out who I am and are beginning to trust me. I’m excited about framing Sue Silverstein’s art for the Memory Care Center, Maria and I will do that this weekend, we’ve ordered the frames and boards online.

When I last went over there, just before 5 p.m. Tia and  Hollyanne,  two capable and vigilant aides, were on duty and said all was well. Everyone was comfortable and had what they need. Tomorrow will be much worse than today, I’ll keep checking.

When I got home, Maria was in her new “office” on the front porch, where she checks her e-mail and edits and publishes her videos, accompanied by various cats and dogs.

Jim went inside to watch his new DVD’s and Georgina went to the Great Room to read. Almost everyone else was in their rooms staying quiet and cool, there were six people in the Activity Room, now also air-conditioned, watching some of the new DVD movies the Army Of Good bought for them.

It was so comfortable and quiet in there, they all seemed so comfortable and were so fixated on the romantic comedy they were watching they barely registered my presence. Usually, Red comes in ahead of me to announce us. Nobody noticed he wasn’t there except Madeline.

She told me his collar was too tight.

This all made me feel peaceful and fulfilled. I thank you for sharing this journey with me and for making it possible. We made a lot of people safe and comfortable tonight, we might even have saved a life if the dire weather forecasts are to be believed.

I’ll stay on it, and I will sleep well tonight knowing they are all okay. We did good.

If you wish to contribute to the Mansion work, you can send a contribution in any amount to me via Paypal, [email protected], or by check, Jon Katz, Mansion Fund, P.O.    Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

And thanks for buying out the six DVD’s on the Amazon Mansion Wish List. They will be watching the movies by tomorrow night.