The aides at the Mansion wanted to thank Josie and the Army of Good for the beautiful hats and scarves for wearing outdoors  (not masks)  they sent them last month. They are grateful.

On behalf of the vulnerable people they serve, I want to thank the aides for the grueling, exhausting, and heroic work they have done this year keeping the Mansion residents safe.

They are exhausted, drained by the stress of keeping the residents, healthy, and of keeping themselves healthy.

It’s been almost a year since the pandemic struck, and some of the aides are worn beyond speaking. They have seen little of their families, worked long hours, sprayed rivers of disinfectants, rubbed countless surfaces, comforted the residents.

The vaccines will add some more stress before relief.

People often have mild symptoms of the virus after they take the vaccine, and that will mean more quarantining and loss of pay for the aides.

They have worked long hours six and seven days a week, they are short-staffed and running out of energy. Many are out of sick leave days because of all the time spent in quarantine or testing.

I’m making it a primary mission to try to brighten their Christmas. I’ve sent the Mansion residents clothes, puzzles, games, and art supplies.

I’ve sent scores of lunch and dinner meals to break up their routines and escape institutional food.

I’m distributing gift cards to several of the Mansion aides who are food insecure. I’m purchasing Christmas gifts for the aide’s children if they need help buying gifts for Christmas – I know some of they do need help.

And I’m maintaining the Wal-Mart Gift Card program for Mansion aides and refugee families who need help.

If you want to help out for Christmas, you can send a donation to me via Paypal, [email protected] or by check, Jon Katz, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. Small donations and big ones are welcome.

So are Wal-Mart gift cards in any amount. Please send them to me at Jon Katz, 2502 State Route 22, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. If you prefer, you can send a donation via Paypal, or to Jon Katz, Mansion/Refugee fund,  P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., and I can buy the cards.

We’ve identified 10 refugee families as food insecure and are helping them out with gift cards as needed. Thanks so much for your support.

The aides are true heroes, and I want to make sure they have some kind of Christmas.  It is good for them to see that people care and that they are appreciared.