The Price Chopper Gift Card program to feel the hungry students and families of Bishop Maginn High School is in its 12th day, and I have received gift cards in the mail or from UPS every single day since it began.

Your generosity is nothing short of amazing. People – students and adults –  are eating three meals a day because of you.

We have raised more than $3,000 for the students and their families, many blindsided by the coronavirus crisis and the closing of the school, at least until May, and quite possibly beyond.

Many of the parents have fled genocide and years in refugee camps, many are doctors, lawyers, nurses, business people who come here and find jobs cleaning hotel rooms, businesses or hospitals.

Some of the students were already hungry, lining up in school classrooms for the oatmeal and other meals the teachers were buying for them with their own money. Private schools don’t qualify for federal food stamps or other nutrition programs.

And urban teachers in Catholic High Schools don’t earn very much.

Many of these parents have suddenly been laid off and are struggling to feed their families, Sue Silverstein, the Bishop Maginn teacher who is distributing the gift cards, says she has never seen so many people ask for help.

There are about 12 families on Sue’s list labeled “critical,” 20 or so labeled “urgent,”(they are newcomers to poverty)  the rest from people who never needed help before, they probably number another 20.

None of them are hungry thanks to you. (We also purchased 21 Chome laptops so every Bishop Maginn student can have a computer to access the school’s mobile classroom. Thanks for that too.)

The need for our work has doubled and tripled, and I think the gift card program may be the most important one we have taken on, I am committed to keeping it going, and am writing about the gift cards every day.

You can contribute in any amount, but the school is closed, and gift cards won’t be delivered to post office boxes, only to street addresses, so I agreed to have them come here to Bedlam Farm and I sent them overnight to Sue. If you purchase a gift card, please send it to my address:  Jon Katz, 2502 State Route 22, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

I expect some of you may be experiencing your own worries, please don’t feel any pressure. Gift cards in any amount are welcome and precious to these families, they think the Army Of Good is a miracle.

And you are.

If any of you don’t like to buy things online or navigate alien websites, I’ll be happy to buy the cards for you. You can donate via Paypal, [email protected], or you can send a check to Jon Katz, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. Just mark the money “Gift Cards,” And thank you, the need is very great and we are making all the difference.

Note: we are reviving the Mansion Pen Pal program, you may be aware that the Mansion, a Medicaid Assisted Care Facility, is under a state-mandated lockdown. The residents can’t go out for walks, go on outings, receive visitors, or see their families.

If anyone is willing to be a Pen Pal, you can send your messages via e-mail – [email protected], or by letter or card to The Mansion, 11 S. Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. Julie will get your e-mails and letters to your Pen Pal.

Please don’t expect any acknowledgments or even any responses.  Just choose the person you wish to be a Pen Pal and send any kind of message.

Things are pretty hectic at the Mansion, so don’t wait for instructions, please. I am searching online for masks to send them – 250 are on the way and some people are making masks (thanks) and I am purchasing special pizza lunches and dinners for the aides, and special desserts and meals catered by Jean’s Place.

You can contribute to these meals and other Mansion work during this time via Paypal, [email protected], or by check, Jon Katz, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. And thanks.

The Mansion residents interested in finding a Pen Pal are Ellen, Matt, Gerry, Sylvie, Joanne, Madeline, Brother Peter, Helen, Georgianna, Georgiann, Barbara, Alanna, Linda, Nancy, Annette, Peggie, Becky, Jean, Roberta (Bert); Tim, Ben, John, Jim, Claudia, Ruth.

I can’t thank you all enough, but I’ll keep trying.