Thanks to Josie And Stacy from Pueblo West sent a box full of gorgeous, colorful handwoven winter caps just as the big chill arrived this week.

I asked the aides to take a look and see if any of them wanted some, and boy did they ever. What a hit. They sent me this selfie of three wearing the caps and offering thanks.

The rest will be distributed to the residents.

I also brought a box of beautiful scarves sent by Anne Schmalfeld of Raleigh, N.C. The residents are getting to choose from them tonight after dinner.

Many thanks to Josie, Stacy, and Anne, and thanks for asking me first if these could be useful.

The Mansion needs are particular and change constantly, and there are many things people have that they can’t use.  [email protected].

You can also ask Mansion Activities Director Julie Harlin: [email protected].

I bought a special lunch for the Mansion aides today – subs and onion rings. It cost $187. It is a great morale booster, and boy, do they need that.

If you can, please e-mail me first at [email protected] if you have special gifts for the residents. These will make them very happy. Tomorrow, I’m setting out to my Consignment Network for mittens and some sweaters.

I supply clothes to the residents throughout the year as their need arises – clothes get lost, torn, mangled, worn – or as the seasons change.

Contributions to my Mansion Fund are always welcome. You can send them to me via Paypal, [email protected], or to Jon Katz, Mansion Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. Next week, I’m bringing $300 in food gift cards to two Mansion aides who are experiencing food insecurities.

Food gift cards are especially welcome. Wal-Mart is a good and simple place to buy gift cards online; they can buy food and toiletries and badly needed personal items.

Their site is straightforward and very easy to use.

If you do purchase gift cards, please send them to me. You can send them via Paypal, [email protected], or to Jon Katz, Hunger Project, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

Thanks, there are few things as gratifying as seeing these aides – genuine heroes – get something they love, which is also useful on cold days.