You can’t stop a good therapy dog from bringing some light and comfort to a darkened world.

I miss the Mansion residents, you don’t always realize how important something is until you can’t see them. Once or twice a week, I drive to the Mansion (when the guv says it’s okay) and stand with Zinnia outside the window. We wave and blow kisses to one another.

We are not allowed inside the building or within sis feet of the residents and the aides. So far, so good, everyone in the Mansion is healthy. But a lot of the aides are wearing out. People are working  all kinds of long shifts.

One thing I can do for them apart from the masks is getting some leggo sets for their kids, who love them and need them right now.

Those poor people have been unable to go outside or receive visitors or see their families for weeks, and they miss Zinnia a lot. Today, I saw Kelly, one of the Mansion aides, coming outside to pick up the mail.

She loves Zinnia. I lowered the rear window on the opposite side of the car and Kelly, masked and keeping her distance, leaned forward to say hello to Zinnia without touching her. Zinnia and Kelly always get down on the floor and love each other, this was a touching thing to see.

Zinnia was puzzled by this, she loves to lick Kelly on the nose. It was therapy work in the age of corona, but the residents loved seeing her and waved to both of us out the window.

Zinnia reached out to her, I think she was happy to do this work.

Julia Harlin, the Mansion Activities Director, messaged me to say thanks for setting up another lunch this Wednesday (subs of all kinds), I’m also asking Jean’s Place to make lunch for the residents on Friday. They will make some pies for dessert.

The means are huge morale boosters, they light up their days and break up the routines. And institutional food is not always exciting. Our lunches and dinners are pretty wild. The dinners cost between $200 and $250 each. I’m doing one or two a week.

I’m also sending pizzas to the aides for lunch and dinner – it usually takes two pizzas, one Pepperoni, one vegetable. Jean’s Place sends the most amazing pies. They cost about $75 for five or six. This isn’t something we can do every day, but once or twice a week.

The residents really look forward to the meals, so do the aides.

I get enough food for everyone.

Julia got the speakers, Ipad and art supplies we sent – six easels with paint – and enough markers and brushes to last a while. Lots of painting going on.

“What a blessing you all have been to everyone,” she wrote. I have been getting lots and lots of letters and e-mails from your blog readers and the residents love them, Julie.”

Thanks to all of you for this. We are doing everything we can to brighten up the residents’ long and sometimes empty days. They always fear being isolated, now they really are.

Your messages mean a lot. We have revived our Pen Pal program, people in the Army Of Good can choose a Pen Pal and email them through Julie – [email protected].

You can e-mail letters or send cards and photos and paper messages to The Mansion, 11 S. Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. Please don’t expect messages or acknowledgments right now, the staff is exhausted and nearly overwhelmed.

The residents who wish to be messaged are Ellen, Matt, Gerry, Sylvie, Joanne, Madeline, Brother Peter, Helen, Georgianna, Georgiann, Barbara, Alanna, Nancy, Annette, Peggie, Becky, Jean, Robert (Bert), Tim, Ben, John, Jim, Claudia, and Ruth.

They love animal pictures and stories and tales of your own life and town. Thanks.

I’ve found about 250 masks in various places online, they are coming slowly, but they are getting here. If any of you know how to make masks for the aides, they would be grateful – 11 S. Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

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

And take care of yourselves, you have never been needed more than right now.