I went to Bishop Maginn today to talk to some of the students there and see how we might continue to be helpful as the school year progresses. When I arrived, I saw groups of cheerful and engaged students were all munching on pizza – it was pizza day in the cafeteria.

I also noticed – and the teachers affirmed what I saw – that many of the students didn’t have a slice or two of pizza for lunch, and were off in different classrooms eating sandwiches or just hanging out.

The cost of the pizza is $2.50 a slice and many of the kids just didn’t have the money.

I tracked down the cafeteria manager – Chris Cioffi of the Anthony’s School Lunch Program – and asked her what the cost would be to sponsor a free pizza lunch for all the students in the school.

She estimated that would take about 20 to 25 pizzas at roughly $8 apiece, or somewhere between $160 and $180.

I offered $200 to cover the costs for her, and if some of the students also needed some drinks. Chris very generously offered to provide any additional pizzas – if we went over $200 – and free salads and greens.

This afternoon I sent her a check for $200, the Bishop Maginn Pizza Lunch Program is underway, I admit I try to move quickly.

I think I shocked Sue Silverstein for once. On pizza day, the students can eat wherever they want, and Sue Silverstein’s art class filled up quickly.

I’m asking for help to keep this program going, it will exist or expand in proportion to the contributions. We can do it monthly, which seems a good way to start, and perhaps, stay.

I thought $200 is pretty reasonable to feed pizza and salad to 140 plus students (and teachers).

So we have the first Monthly Free Bishop Maginn Pizza Lunch scheduled for sometime next week. The first check was on me.

Chris Cioffi, Anthony’s School Lunch Program (and a great dog lover)

Principal Mike Tolan and Sue Silverstein loved the idea, they were, as usual, stunned by the idea someone would do this for the school. “We don’t want to take advantage of you,” Sue said.

But I explained they wouldn’t be taking advantage of me or the Army Of Good. I ask for help, and people help if they can, not if they don’t. I’ll send Chris a check for the monthly lunches as long and as often as there are funds to support the idea. I think it would be a huge morale boost for the kids and turn the pizza lunches into something the entire school community can support.

I talked at some length with the public school kids we helped get to Bishop Maginn about their new school, I was deeply touched by their responses, which I will write more about. They love the school, the students were supportive and caring, the teachers were warm and helpful, the classes were small enough so that they could get help with their language problems.

Perhaps most importantly, they felt safe there. They talked of beatings, robberies, and insults they often had to deal with in their former schools. One refugee students had his hair set on fire, one girl – she is now at Bishop Maginn – was beaten badly enough to be hospitalized.

They all felt comfortable and eager to get to class. I’ll be publishing their photos and stories, and I’m excited about the pizza lunch program. We’ll take it as far as if goes.

If you wish to contribute, you can donate via Paypal, [email protected], or by check, Jon Katz, Free Pizza Lunch, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. Thanks much.

I’ll be posting about my visit to  Bishop Maginn and sharing some of the student’s portraits I took as well over the weekend and on Monday. I was very happy to be back in school today, preparing for my own Writing Workshop in October.