The Army Of Good has had a landmark time these past few weeks. I can’t quite believe all that we have done.

Yesterday, we sold out the new Amazin Bishop Maginn coronavirus wish list; we bought $600 worth of mandated safety signage, plexiglass shields, and infrared thermometers, social distance tapes for the floor. This means the school can open in September.

We also bought a $600 fogger disinfectant system that will enable the staff to spray the lobby, principal’s office, and classrooms in minutes and safely. No chemicals, all-natural disinfectants.

To date, we have purchased $18,000 Price Chopper Gift Cards for the Bishop Maginn Students and family members who are at risk of going hungry, especially since the area’s food stamp and rent assistance programs are overwhelmed. This program is continuing; you can learn how here.

The need is great and will be acute for awhile.

We also rushed more than $800 to a family in extreme need – sick parents, hungry kids, back rent piling up. We bought them the time they needed to get some permanent help.

Because of this program, no member of the Bishop Maginn family has gone without healthy food for themselves and their children.

We purchased $1,000 worth of graduation gifts, customized pens, hats,  candy jars, and pins for each of the 37 graduating students.

Even though the refugee students have lost their regular graduation, we will see they have a neat gift bag. It looks like there will be a graduation ceremony in Albany, details to come.

As to the Mansion, their $3,000 fogging system is working beautifully, helping the residents stay safe at a dangerous and critical time.

I hoped to be able to read to the residents from outside, but no one but the staff is now permitted to get close to any of the residents. It makes sense to be very safe right now.

Jean’s Place is catering weekly special Wednesday lunches for the Mansion – $260 a lunch, including pies – and I am orderly weekly ice cream sundae kits for everyone.

We are also ordering dinners for the evening and overnight staff. Food is a big morale booster.

We have had a strong hand in helping Jean’s to hang on until things open up, which will be soon.

We’ve ordered easels, art supplies, books, and movies for the residents.

No reports of the virus there. Keep your fingers crossed. I miss them, and they miss me and Maria and Zinnia, but we are happy to be able to help from a distance. We’ve made a difference.

Our very successful Pen Pal program continues. If you wish, you can choose a Mansion resident as you Pen Pal and send letters, photos cards,  or e-mail messages ([email protected] will receive and distribute them).

The mailing address is the Mansion, 11 S. Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

The residents wish to receive mail are Edith, Dale, Gary, Ellen, Matt, Gerry, Sylvia, Joanne, Madeline, Brother Peter, Helen, Georgianna, Georgiann, Barbara, Alanna, Linda, Nancy, Annette, Peggie, Becky, Jean, Robert (Bert), ben, John, Jim, Claudia, Ruth.

Thanks. If you wish to support this Refugee/Mansion work, you can do so via Paypal, [email protected], or by check, Jon Katz, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. Thanks so much.