Juan’s mom is an aide at the Mansion, she told me this week it’s Juan’s birthday and he is a passionate skateboarder.
She worries about him getting hurt, and she was delighted when he said he wanted a helmet, knee, and elbow guards for his birthday. But she had no extra money to buy them.
She asked me if I could help. So I did.
She has been worrying about Juan, this has been a tough Spring for her family.
She’s worked long and grueling yours and like everybody is working at the Mansion, she is exhausted.
And relieved. No one at the Mansion got sick, one of the only elder care facilities in the state that was spared. They gave a lot of their blood for it.
Juan texted me this photo to thank me for his knee and elbow guards and helmet, we’ve become good pals.
Happy Birthday, Juan.
Today, I went to Jean’s Place to approve of the cake we ordered to celebrate the heroic work of the aides this Spring, and to pay for it. It’s big enough for everyone to get a piece. It’s going to the Mansion tomorrow.
This year, I’m on a mission to support the aides, the hardest working people I know, and some of the most underpaid. I buy them occasional lunches and dinners, so they can have special food they love.
We outfitted a break room so they can eat lunch in peace and rest.
I’ve been providing them with gift cards to help them with food issues during the pandemic.
We’ve been buying special colorful and safe masks and some toys and gifts for their children when they can’t give them what they want. We bought all of the aides some new scrubs to wear, theirs were wearing out.
We’ve supplied some orthopedic chairs and coffee for the Break Room.
I am hoping to continue supporting these remarkable people. They are loving and diligent. If you wish to purchase gift cards, you can do so here in any amount.
Please send them to me, Jon Katz. 2502 State Route 22, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.
I’ll save some for the Bishop Maginn Refugee Families and give the others to the Mansion aides who need them.
If you don’t wish to purchase them online, or just want to support my work with the aides, you can send a donation to me via Paypal, [email protected], or by check, Jon Katz, P.O. Box Office 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.
And thank you so much. You can see and purchase the gift cards here.
Happy to see this Jon. You are such a caring person and I love hearing that the Mansion was spared from this hideous virus….
Jon, sorry, but one week of refraining from smoking Newports @ $12.85 a package, say, one package a day, could have easily allowed Melissa to purchase Juan’s knee pads, elbow pads and helmet. Expensive, filthy habit, which is damaging to her and the family’s health, and totally unnecessary. And yes, I KNOW how hard it is to kick the habit! I helped my sister stop smoking and drinking alcohol to excess two years ago which resulted in her saving over $2,000 per month. That’s a lot of money which could be used for family necessities over the course of a year.
Sorry back to you, Fred, this is none of my business, and from where I sit, none of yours. I help people who need it, I don’t believe that gives me the right to tell them what to do or investigate their personal lives. If she needs to smoke it’s her business, and if you don’t like it, keep your money. I found your message both pompous and obnoxious. You know nothing about her or what her life is like. I am glad most people are not so self-righteous.
Fred, it was good of you to help your sister. My guess is she was ready and willing to accept the help. I too noticed the Newports and felt sad. Jon is right, it’s not my business. However, it is very much my concern and hope that the stress and pressure on this Hero will lesson and she will have some breathing room.
Juan has a smile that lights up and he deserves that protection and I’m glad for Jon’s generosity.
We as a nation need to share our Kindness and Compassion. Sometimes it’s difficult to hold in our words.
Thank you for your caring heart.