I’m happy to announce a new Amazon Bishop Maginn High School Senior Banquet Wish List, gifts that will make a final farewell celebration for seniors at the school possible.

Gifts purchased on the Wish List are tax-deductible.

Last year, the Bishop Maginn seniors – so many of whom are refugees who have spent years in camps surviving persecution, starvation,  and bloodshed – were deprived of all of their senior activities by the pandemic.

This year, the school is determined to give their seniors an event they deserve and desperately want – something that gets them together for a celebration.

Things like proms and dances are too complicated this year. So the school – which spent every penny it had – on tuitions and safety equipment  – came up with the next best thing: A Senior Class Banquet.

Covid-19  and the many problems of the Catholic Church as left the school with no extra money, so they turned to me and the Army of Good to help these children mark one of the most important events in their lives – high school graduation.

Without us, I don’t think there will be a banquet.

Today, Sue Silverstein put up a new Amazon Bishop Maginn Senior Banquet Wish list, without which this cannot happen. And it needs to happen.

This list totals $750 and has 17 items ranging in price from $5.99 to $22.99,  ranging from birthday bandanas to graduation party water bottle labels to special graduation sashes to Buttermints, colored fine art markers to disposable dinnerware and napkin cups with lights, gold tablecloths, laminating sheets,   and other party supplies and dinner favors.

There are a total of 56 its, all low priced, counting multiple purchases for some. It’s a very modest list.

There is also a request for a Gold Crown for the Banquet Queen ($22.99); the students chose Zinnia. She will be at the banquet, so will Maria and me.

These children are heroes to me. They have suffered plenty in their lives and this year. I think they deserve a break and a way to say goodbye to the school they love so dearly.

The banquet will be held at the school.

I hope we can get this graduation class the goodbye and celebration they deserve and want so badly. All items will be shipped directly to Bishop Maginn, and they are all tax-deductible.

You can choose the items and purchase one or two if you wish to participate.

Thanks so much for considering it. The new list is here.

As always, if anyone is uncomfortable shopping online or using Amazon, you can send me a donation via Paypal, [email protected], or  Venmo, [email protected], or by check Jon Katz, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. Small and large donations are both appreciated.

We have several weeks to gnaw through this list and get the Banquet supplies to the school. Thank you. You can browse the list here.