At the beginning of every week, I go to the Mansion and ask the residents and the aides what is needed. They are almost always small things, toiletries, razors, deodorant, clothes, socks. The same morning, I stop by the Millers to see if there is anything they need to get for them.

And I call Sue Silverstein to see if there is anything the school or the students might need. I visit the school in Albany at least once a week, sometimes more.

By Thursday or Friday, I usually have the things requested; they come to the farm.

Today, I had this for the Mansion:  pajamas for Ruth, snow pants for Charlie, Boxer shorts (large) for Bill.

And a new project that is important now and that I might need some help with: I’ve been asked if I can get six to eight new bathrobes for some of the residents; the aides are checking on sizes.

The goal is to make sure every resident has a warm bathrobe. Few do.

I either bring the items to Bishop Maginn or ship them if I’m not going into Albany that day. I drive them to the Miller’s farm, which is just up the road.

If you wish, you can contribute to the bathrobe project, which might cost a couple of hundred dollars: via Paypal, [email protected], Venmo, [email protected], or by check, Jon Katz, Mansion Fund, P.O.Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 1286.

For the Amish, I have new mittens for three toddlers and one four-year-old. The Amish pay for the things I buy them. It is not easy to find black gloves for babies.

I’m making my regular rounds today and possibly also tomorrow morning. Some boots are coming today. This is a tradition and chore I have come to love. The residents save their needs until I get there or ask the aides to contact me. We stay small and focused.