Once or twice a week during the pandemic, I deliver toys or clothes, or food to the Mansion. Also, sports bras. The toys are for the Mansion aides kids – I have a good and up-to-date list of what the kids like and how old they are.
I’ve also had a bunch of requests from the residents for sports bras. I’ve gotten 8 so far. Today, I’m sending $600 in good gift cards to Albany for the refugee families suffering food insecurity.
This afternoon, I’ll bring several hundred dollars in gift cards to three Mansion aides. Tia was out on the porch in the photo above during our one warm day with some of the residents.
She was helping to bring in the toys. The work of the Mansion aides has been beyond heroic, they are exhausted and stretched thin, but working hard to keep the residents safe.
I can’t get close yet, but I can wave from the lawn or the driveway. It’s the first time I’ve seen some of the residents in a year. I saw some new faces.
I’m getting my second vaccine next week and hope I can re-start my readings and meditation classes soon.
Thanks for your support. It is making a huge difference.
If you wish to support the Mansion/Refugee Fund, you can do so via Paypal, [email protected], or Venmo, [email protected].
Or, you can send a check to Jon Katz, Mansion/Refugee Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge N.Y. 12816.
If you wish to purchase a gift card from Wal-Mart for food or personal items like deodorant or tampons, you can go here. The cards need to be sent to my address, Jon Katz, 2502 State Route 22, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816; if you prefer, you can send me a donation, and I’ll buy the cards via Paypal [email protected], or at Venmo, [email protected].
You can also donate by check: Jon Katz, Mansion/Refugee, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. I’ll buy the cards or use the money for toys or clothes. And thank you.
Jon,
I think I have been reading your blog since you began. I rarely if ever comment. That said, this is my second comment in 2 days.
I’m impressed that the women at the Mansion are asking for sports bras. More power to them. My personal experience with a sport bra could have been a or Carol Burnett or Candid Camera skit. The very name suggests someone who is into sports would probably wear this type of bra. I think the point is to be so tight as to smash one’s boobs and keep them from flying about while running or playing tennis. I also think because of the style (over the head and shoulders?) sports bras are perhaps made for younger, small chested women.
I once found myself in a dressing room trying on a sports bra. With my arms through the armholes, my boobs appropriately smashed but stuck on the outside of the bra I was stuck. Literally stuck. At this point it was Impossible to get either in or out of said bra. Houdini might have had an easier job hanging upside down and shedding a locked straight jacket. I’m happy to say, I did finally extricate my boobs, arms and head. I did so without pulling out my father’s pocket knife that I carry in my purse since his passing. To be honest, even if I could have found the knife in my purse, not my pocket, how could I have opened it and cut through space age elastic? Let me just say I was glad I was alone in the dressing room and there were no hidden cameras.
If the mansion women can get in to and out of sports bras I’d say they are more flexible than most of the old ladies I know, myself included.