Betty Parker from Baltimore sent me a huge box over the weekend full of big, soft, fuzzy bathrobes.

The Mansion residents will flip over these, they are a great compliment to my Fall Clothing Festival for the Mansion residents and also for some of the neediest students at Bishop Maginn High School.

The elderly often suffer in the winter, their bodies are often thin and fragile, and it is important for them to get outside and walk if they can, or sit comfortably in their rooms.

I’ve launched a sustained winter clothes campaign at the Mansion, distributing sweaters, lap blankets, fuzzy slippers, scarves, and some warmer winter shoes. Mostly, I use a network of thrift and consignment shops to supply used clothes in good condition, I go online when the items are personal, like bras, socks, or underwear.

I think those clothes should be new.

At Bishop Maginn High School, clothes are also an important issue. About half of the school’s students can’t afford school supplies, let along good winter clothes and boots. Some of the students are wearing flip-flops into January and February and have no winter jackets.

My goal is that everyone at the Mansion or Bishop Maginn High School has the clothes they need to get through the winter comfortably and warmly. A lot of these kids walk to school, a lot of the Mansion residents come with few clothes.

Some of the students, especially women, need help purchasing personal hygiene and health items. They are also reluctant to ask for this kind of help, so the teachers will help me to figure out who is needy, and we will help them get what they need.

I’ve worked out a program with the staff and administrators to create a fund which I will maintain, to support the Mansion residents and the BM students.

I see the Mansion residents often and speak almost daily with one or more of the aides. I usually hear about it quickly when someone needs clothes.

I’ve already made great headway at the Mansion, some new residents are coming in and they may need some help and when it gets cold, I’ll have a better idea of who needs what.

At the high school, the teachers or administrators will notify me when a student appears inadequately dressed and encourage them to ask for help if they need winter clothes.

It’s a small school and it will not take a huge amount of money to supply them with the clothes they need, but it will take some money and more money than I have.  Part of the task is the educate the students and their parents about this help, which will be made available to them.

I’d like to raise between $600 and $800 for this project, which will run through the winter. This is a genuine need on a relatively small scale, we can make a huge difference in the lives of some good and needy people, who need help through no fault of their own.

I’ll bring the clothes I purchase directly to the Mansion residents, the teachers at Bishop Maginn will transfer funds to the family, or, if appropriate, take the kids and their mothers or fathers shopping. It’s agreed that this should be done discreetly and off of the school premises to preserve the privacy and dignity of the students and their families.

I’d appreciate your help. You can donate to the Clothing Fund/Mansion/Refugees, either through Paypal, [email protected] or by check,  Mansion/Refugee Clothes, Jon Katz, P.O.   Box 205 Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

Thank you, Army Of Good, and Betty, this is a great big act of genuine kindness. Your support is needed and appreciated.