The Afghan Refugee Children’s Toy Wish List sold out in minutes.

I admit to being stunned when I told Sue Silverstein of Bishop Maginn that our wish list had sold out before she even knew it was up; she said it was unreal.

She is right; I am spinning with gratitude and happiness.

Sue said she called one of the refugee social workers and told her the news, and the social worker burst into tears. All I know how to say is thank you. Again.

The Amazon Toy Wish List for the Afghan Refugee who has arrived in Albany (and whose children have been given free tuition at Bishop Maginn) was gone in a flash. It had 24 items for multiple orders.

The Wish List was a joint project of Bishop Maginn and the Bedlam Farm Army of Good. We did even more today.

The AOG also sent $1,000 worth of books with unique content for refugees in transition (and their children)  to the school this morning. This is a pet project of mine.

Bishop Maginn High School, home of many inner-city and Refugee students, has opened a classroom to serve as a free store for Afghan refugees.

At least 60 families, many with children, have arrived in Albany.

The high school is a center for distributing food, and we have sent blankets, towels, bedding, pillows, backpacks, sleeping bags, and a dozen other things to the free store, which many of you sent. The store has emptied four times and is being re-stocked.

We’ve also sent enough foodstuff and gotten enough gift certificates so that the new refugees will have a full American Thanksgiving dinner – they requested this – as a welcome to America.

The toys and books are all going to the free store. This is welcome with a bang.

Maria has begun teaching sewing and quilting to the Bishop Maginn students, and some of the new quilts will go to the refugee families.

The refugees can come and choose what they want from the free store, and if they can’t get to the school, social workers and teachers will bring them what they need.

I’m still asking for help with the additional books we want to purchase – they are specialized and expensive, from maps to stories about leaving pets and friends behind.

You can donate via Paypal, [email protected] or Venmo, [email protected], or donate by check, Jon Katz, Books, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

Some of the books can help adults as well as children.

America is a beautiful country in my mind; it tears my heart to hear people complain about it so much and undermine its values. For all of its imperfections,  it was the best idea for free people ever.

This work we are doing is the real America, not the one people are whining and bitching about. It is full of good people with big hearts. I hear from them every day.

I am so proud of what we are doing; all I can say is thank you. The Afghan refugees are just arriving, and we will be learning more specifically what we can do to help them.

We will keep perspective, harness our resources and make our decisions thoughtfully.

Small acts of great kindness are the theme. I’ll stay on it and am grateful to all of you for your trust and support over these past few years. You are what has made all of this possible.

There are not enough good words to thank you.