The very gifted Emily Gold is working on another bunch of “Appreciation Cards” that I send out to people who support my blog and contribute to the Army of Good’s small acts of great kindness.
I can’t afford to send them to everyone, although I wish I could, so I just follow my instincts.
I love Emily’s collages, you can see her great work and sign up for her increasingly popular virtual collage lessons here on her blog, papercakescissors.com.
She says a number of people are buying her notecards.
I am always in the market for Wal-Mart gift cards, they are easy to order and are delivered quickly. People can use them for good and also for personal items and toiletries.
They go to the Mansion aides who need them and also to the refugee families in the Bishop Maginn High School community.
A number of refugee families are in food trouble because they are now paying heating oil bills, and have nothing left over for food. I sent $600 to Sue Silverstein to distribute them.
I am happy to report that “C,” the young refugee student who was thinking of leaving school and skipping college, has changed her mind.
She will apply to a good community college shortly and study business. She’ll start in six months. Sue and I both had important and healthy conversations with her.
Whew.
If you wish to send gift cards in any amount, you can do so here. Please send them to me at the farm, Jon Katz, 2502 State Route 22, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.
If you’d rather I buy the gift cards, you can send a donation for that (or the rest of my work) to Jon Katz, P.O. Box 205, Mansion/Refugee Fund, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.
I’d like to resume some catered lunches at the Mansion, they miss the food from Jean’s Place, I’ve held back to keep our help focused on urgent needs. But the food is an important morale booster for the residents and staff.
The Mansion and Bishop Maginn staff are all getting ready to be vaccinated and I’ll soon be able to return for in-person visits. I’m anxious to get to know the new residents, visit with the old ones, and spend some time at Bishop Maginn.
This weekend, I’ll get some appreciation cards from Emily. I really enjoy sending them out.
And thanks to all of you. Through all of this, we have never missed a beat. We have helped a lot of needy people who might have been lost without us.
I am relieved to hear C changed her mind. I wish her a good life.
YOU are appreciated! Jon, I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your efforts to keep this young woman in school! From a multi year perspective, we know that there is nothing with more impact on her future than pursuing her education, but it’s not as clear to someone living in the here and now. Helping her to see and follow the educational path may well turn out to be one of the most important life accomplishments you will have. Thank you for caring and acting on those concerns!
That’s good news about “C”. Glad you were able to get her to make a better decision!