The first step in our new Bishop Maginn Refugee Hunger Project will be Thanksgiving. Sue Silverstein, Mike Toland, and the other teachers at the school have identified ten families who are what we now call Food Insecure.

That means they don’t have enough money to feel their families three healthy meals a day, or even two. Sue and I have agreed that I will provide each of the families with Price Chopper or Wal-Mart gift cards; we think $50 will make it possible for every family to buy a turkey, $100 will make it possible for them to have a full Thanksgiving Dinner, candles, trimmings, dessert and all.

Small acts of great kindness.

I’ve been buying some of the gift cards for people who don’t wish to shop online, and the good people of the Army Of Good have sent me about $500 in gift cards from Wal-Mart and Price Chopper, the local grocery chain.

I’m also hoping to stockpile some gift cards for food emergencies, especially during the holiday season. For these ten families, life is getting harder.

Government benefits have been cut off, benefits for refugees have been stopped by the federal government, and people in these families are losing their jobs again as the fallout from the pandemic worsens.

I’m glad the Stock Market is hanging in there; the economy does not look rosy for these displaced and needy people.

I believe I have enough for the $50 option; I hope to get more gift cards for Thanksgiving and keep in reserve. I want to build the Hunger Fund up to several thousand dollars, so we’ll be ready in case of emergencies.

I believe several of the Mansion aides will need some food and holiday support as well.

If you wish, you can purchase gift cards for Wal-Mart here and Price Chopper here.

The gift cards have to be sent to me at the farm, Jon Katz, 2502 State Route 22,  Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. Donations, if you prefer,  can come to me there, or at Jon Katz, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. I’m happy to buy cards.

The first gift cards will go to Bishop Maginn in two weeks, right before Thanksgiving. The rest will be dispensed as needed throughout the holiday and beyond.

This is an effective and direct way to help people who have been left behind due to no fault of their own and are struggling. We’re going to keep the focus on the ten families.

I’d like the Hunger Fund to be all gift cards rather than cash donations.

It goes right to the families for the things they need. This is only for food; the school can’t even give out the morning snacks – often the healthiest meal of the day for students – now because of pandemic health regulations.

Thanks for the cards and donations, and if you wish to help the Hunger Fund, you can do so by donating to me via Paypal, [email protected], or to Jon Katz. P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.