(Friends, before I write about today, I wanted to mention that we are working on another Bishop Maginn Amazon Refugee Toy Wist List for the newly arriving Afghan refugees, now coming steadily into Albany. The people who needed blankets and asked for them have them, at least as of now; I spoke with a refugee coordinator and also with Sue Silverstein, and both said the urgent need was toys for the children who are stranded in strange apartments and won’t be going to school until January. We’ll put one up as soon as we get detailed information about what the children want. We’d love to get the toys here in time for Christmas, so we’re scrambling on the list.)

Maria and I were both high as kites when we left Bishop Maginn today. In addition to bringing a carload of blankets, comforters, and new boots declined by the Amish (but eagerly sought by refugees).

Maria bought four new quilts for the refugees constructed from four never-used quilt tops and some new ones batting she had purchased for her quilts. They meet all of the CDC and state health guidelines.

She held one of the new tops out for Sue Silverstein’s art class, they wanted to know how to close up the quilts.

Maria and Sue Silverstein talked, and Maria said the quilts need to be tacked, that is tied up, and Sue asked if Maria would be willing to come and teach her art class how to do the tacking. Maria was mobbed by students who wanted to learn how to sew and tack a quilt.

She stayed at the school through lunch and spent well over an hour showing the students – primarily refugees – how to do it properly and safely. They were mesmerized, they are eager to help getting these quilts to the new arrivals.

She said she hadn’t factored in their tiny hands; it was harder for them to thread needles than for her.

The room was stuffed to the rafter with boxes for the Afghan refugees, and the planned Thanksgiving baskets, towels, and blankets are pouring in all week. The free store the school set up for the refugees has sold through three times, but vast loads of packages arrived again today; they are stacked all over Sue’s classroom and in other spaces.

Sue signed Maria and me up to come in and help stuff the Thanksgiving Baskets just before the holiday.

Two refugee agencies have volunteered to distribute them. The blankets and towels go out as quickly as they come in, the need is acute. We believe that every refugee that we know of who was cold now has appropriate bedding and blankets.

(Above. There are boxes everywhere, all around the classroom and in other rooms. They go out as soon as they come in, refugee coordinators pull up in their vans and SUVs all day to get them out where they belong.)

We were both surprised by the student’s love of this class and Sue called up to ask Maria if she would be willing to teach a sewing and quilting class. Quilting is very popular in some of the student’s home countries and there is great interest in it. She enthusiastically agreed.

I took advantage of the time to take some portraits of the refugee’s faces, they photograph beautifully and are perfect for my Leica.

Zinnia was hanging out with the students the whole time, BMHS is like a second home to her. I’ll put up some photos of her separately tonight, but I did want to show the time, Emily Benson, a reporter for the Evangelist, the Catholic Weekly,  showed up to interview Sue and me and Zinnia.

She wanted to know all about Maria and also how easily Zinnia fit into the school. I love Maria, as is obvious, but I am also proud of her. These new quilt tops were sent to her some time, and she wasn’t sure how to use them. When the call went out for comforters, she went to work and patched the tops together.  Then she turned it into an art class for refugee and inner-city kids. That is turning into a regular class for her to each at Bishop Maginn.

This is how good grows. I am very happy to be back at the school every week, we are talking about another writing class for me to teach now that the pandemic is easing.

Channel 10 reporter Jamie DeLine, who did those stories about Zinnia as Prom Queen, also came, but we had to leave before we got to see her. She’s planning on doing a piece on the donations. Apart from everything else, I’m so glad that Bishop Maginn High School is getting the attention it deserves. We need a place like this.

Emily was amazed at the scene – 30 to 40 students piling in for lunch – everyone wants to eat lunch in Sue’s classroom – boxes and bags everywhere, packages coming in and out, and Zinnia walking calmly through the crowd greeting everyone and wagging her tail.

It wasn’t until much later that I noticed french fries were dropping mysteriously all over the room, Zinnia was having a blast.

it was wonderful to see the students loving Maria’s gift of quilts, and also to see the outpouring of donations for the Afghan refugees. This is what I call a heart-lifter. More and more Afghan residents are arriving almost daily. The city is expecting 500.

Don’t let anyone tell you that Americans are mean-spirited and nasty, this is my news, and this is the America I love and believe in. Thank you for all of your support. I am beyond words.

You might remember Pole, we bought him a mattress a few months ago so he and his brother don’t have to sleep on the floor. He is from Myanmar and was excited to help get these four new quilts into the hands of the refugees who asked for them.

He had a lot of trouble threading the needle, Maria stuck with him until he did it. He was determined. We will never forget this day – the boxes, the donations, the kids, the quilts, the love, and connection. Don’t be mad. Be good.

Please lookout for the Amazon Bishop Maginn Afghan Refugee Toy Wish List going up over the next few days. What a day this was.