I am happy to call the attention of the Army Of Good to a new, fun, short, and happily very inexpensive and suddenly urgent  Bishop Maginn Amazon Wish List: A Homemade Senior Prom.

The list is a riotous listing of 10 ways to make these Bishop Maginn High School student’s last Prom memorable. These are items they requested, at my request, and with Sue Silverstein’s help.

When I went to my high school prom, we rented limousines, wore suits or tuxedos, went out to dinner, had professional photographs, elaborate floral bouquets, and table settings, favors, and gifts, a band and tables full of delicious food.

These children can’t have one like that. And it seems they don’t want one like that.

We thought of doing this Wish List a little later on, but after listening to all of the school closings on the radio today (the virus)  while driving to Bishop Maginn, I huddled with Sue and Mike Tolan, and we all agreed that it might be wise to get this stuff now.

The school has no immediate plans to close, but it feels like a big wave is coming.

The Prom is in May; we believe things will be back to normal by then. And they will have to assemble much of it.

These are seniors, the nicest and sweetest and most endearing people.

They are graduating and saying goodbye to the most meaningful refuge and safe space of most of them have ever known. No one taunts them or hurts them at Bishop Maginn.

They are not happy to be leaving the school, but their Prom is of enormous significance to them and their families. It is more than a prom, it’s a celebration of their new lives in America.

The Prom will be held at a very modest “country club” just outside of Albany.

We raised some money for graduation a couple of weeks ago, but the student’s hearts are also set on their Prom, the first for most of them in the United States.  Sue told me how much some prom help would mean to them.

Graduating high school is a big deal; many are fresh from years in refugee camps. It’s worth celebrating, even modestly.

I know what some of the other private schools in Albany do, this is different, and somehow, very pure and innocent. (And cheap.)

For the refugee students at Bishop Maginn, their upcoming graduation prom was going to be a proud but straightforward affair. So we asked them what they wanted in order to have the Prom of their dreams. Their choices are quite amazing.

Their response was both touching and uplifting. And in Sue, they have a teacher who loves nothing more than to make stuff like this with her students.

This Wish List seeks craft things that they can build and make and sew themselves so that they can have the Prom of their dreams.

They will assemble almost all of these decorations and special favors themselves.

They could have asked for much more, they are viscerally modest.

I offered to help.  I am very happy to help. I suspect the Army Of Good will appreciate this list as much as I do. This is the best list ever.

The students asked for ten items, ranging in price from $6.99 (1.2 mm Diamond DIY Glass Sand Rhinestone Beads and iridescent Crystals that shine for nail art. $13.99 Bomarolan for Baby Baby Breath Artificial Flowers, Fake Bypsophia Bouquets.

For $8.19, Honbay 10 Yard Crystal Rhinestone Close Chain (necklace), to be hand-sewn and assembled by the graduates. And for $12.99, Artificial Rose Flowers, for table centerpieces. For $9.99, Table Scatter Acrylic “Diamonds” confetti crystals. And for $9.95, “Senior Class Of 2020” Water Bottle Labels.

These kids can’t afford to buy jewelry, but they have found a way to make some: for $12.99, Paxcoo Jewelry Making Supplies Kit with wires and assembling tools. You get the idea. Their creativity sustains and inspires them, they jump through a lot of hoops, but always with love and enthusiasm.

So please go and check out this wish list.

I love this list, it is full of pride and spirit; it reflects the amazing spirit of these remarkable young people, who never lost their spirit, even under the worst imaginable circumstances.

I love them too. I hope I get invited, this is a prom I am dying to see.  You can find the new Amazon Bishop Maginn Funky Prom Wish List here. 

Please help if you can.

(Photo: Melak with her new pink fingernails.) She has a new dress for the prom.