Beverly and Kayla called me from Caroll’s Trading  Post today to let me know they were having a two-dollar $5 bag sale at the new Annex where they store clothes and shoes and other things for sale.

The Trading Post is a popular consignment store just around the corner from the Mansion.

The store has been invaluable when there is a need for clothes for one of the residents. Beverly understands the special needs of the residents – elastic waists, etc.

And she makes sure everything is clean and in perfect shape, I’m fairly demonic about that. Everything I’ve purchased there – and that is a lot of clothes – has fit perfectly and been loved.

Beverly spotted clean and perfect clothes for the Mansion residents as she was getting ready for the sale, she has been a wonderful friend for me when it comes to finding good and appropriate clothes.

She was worried many of the clothes might be gone before I could get there, so I asked her and Kayla to pick out the good stuff for older men and women and they filled five $5 bags.

A lot of residents come into the Mansion with few clothes, sometimes just the ones on their backs. Others need shoes, jackets, sweaters, or summer clothes but can’t afford to buy them.

Beverly helps every time, and I am deeply grateful to her and Kayla, their shop is a big success, the clothes in the annex were just about sold out when I got there. The five bags cost $5.

My Mansion Fund has been in great demand lately, between lunches, clothes, and art supplies.

There’s about $2,200 left in the fund and I’d like to get it up higher – between $3,000 and $4,000 –  in order to keep ordering morale food and making sure the residents have what they need and the aides get support.

I keep expenditures small and focused, and I don’t let the fund drop below a certain point. You never know.

Our $3,000 purchase of a professional-grade Disinfectant Fogger was critical in making sure no resident got the virus.

We also bought $1,000 in air conditional units, portable and window. A good thing, it’s been a very hot summer and many of the residents are especially sensitive to heat.

I’m holding off on lunches from Jean’s Place and dinners for the aides until I get it up a bit. The catered lunches – they have been a huge factor in keeping more high in there – cost $260 each.

Since the virus, the needs of the Mansion (and the Bishop Maginn refugees) have been steady. We’ve met all of them, and I’m very proud of that, but I want to keep the fund ready as Fall approaches.

We did really well, I’m afraid the emergency isn’t quite over yet.

I’m going to skip the annual boat ride this year, it won’t work while the virus rages.

The residents will be very disappointed, they look forward to it all year.

If you wish to help, you can donate via Paypal, [email protected], or by check, Jon Katz, the Mansion Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

Thanks to you, and to Beverly and Kayla.