During this Pandemic and the resulting economic crisis, we have been purchasing gift cards for the refugees in the Bishop Maginn High School family and for a small number of Mansion aides – single mothers with small children – who have also become food insecure, a mild term for so awful a thing.

The crisis for the refugees has eased somewhat – we have kept everyone fed during this time and thank you – but this is perhaps the most popular and effective program yet undertaken by the Army Of Good.

And I realize the need is not completely over.

A number of people have suggested that I keep it going in a focused way, and I think this is a brilliant idea. I am ready and willing.

Neither of these groups are people are out of the woods yet, both are likely to be facing food issues for the foreseeable future.

My idea is to scale down the program but keep it going – purchasing food gift cards that I sent to Sue Silverstein at the school to keep on hand for emergencies when they arise.

Most of these families no longer face having no food, they do face being able to buy the food they need and want, the healthiest food that their cultures have embraced. And some struggle to provide three meals a day to their children.

So I’m going to keep the Price Chopper Gift Card program going. Food insecurity and hunger in this population are less dire than it was a few weeks ago, but it is still a serious problem.

And I see we can really make a difference. These families have suffered enough.

Many of these children are not feed three times a day, or with healthy and nutritious food.

You can continue to purchase the gift cards here.

So from time to time perhaps we can all continue to purchase some gift cards, and send them to me at Jon Katz 2502 State Route 22, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816 or to Jon Katz, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

I will overnight them to Sue Silverstein, who maintains a list of people in acute need, or occasional need. Many of these people are not yet re-employed and face difficulties with rent, insurance, and utilities.

We can’t take all of those things on, but we can take on hunger and food insecurity. These children should get their three meals a day and not be asking their teachers to feed them breakfast, as was often the case before the Pandemic.

This gift card program stands out as one of the best things we have done, and one of the most successful.

Most of the people we are helping are ready to provide on their own, but some will need help for a long time.

So every now and then, perhaps we can continue this effective program, which sends support efficiently and directly to the people who most need it – that is our ethos. Thanks. You can see the gift cards and buy them here.

If anyone doesn’t like shopping online, please send the donations to me and I will purchase the cards and get them to Sue: Via Paypal, [email protected], or my post office box, Jon Katz, Gift Cards, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

Sue will keep them on hand and distribute them as needed. We can prevent hunger in these children as well as react to it. Thanks to the people who suggested this to me.