I made the first emergency shampoo, body wash, and hair conditioner drop to the Mansion this morning, and I want to thank you. I’m not yet done, but I wanted to quickly get some supplies to the Mansion; the residents were just about out of supplies.

Personal hygiene is a profound issue for people who live in senior facilities. Every resident is responsible for purchasing their own personal hygiene supplies. Some struggle to do it, especially towards the end of the month.

Looking good, feeling good, smelling good are essential to dignity and pride. I’m going out for another shopping round this afternoon, and one more tomorrow. My goal is to leave enough of these supplies to get the residents through Spring.

Thank you for the support. I got your help quickly and continuously, the donations are still coming and still needed.

Even as I write this, Venmo pings, and I get notifications of donations from Paypal. Music to my ears Christmas week. Your generosity will pay for the toiletries and hair supplies. They may also help me fatten up the Mansion Fund, depleted by one of the business months in memory, due in part to the arrival of more than 100 Afghan refugees to the area.

I can’t say enough about the Army Of Good.

You have never failed to come through, and we have done more good than I could calculate or list. Through the pandemic, we’ve gotten Bishop Maginn and the Mansion safe and functioning, we’ve helped refugees and the elderly stay warm and comfortable, and provided household items, blankets, toys, and books (even a snowblower) where appropriate.

The Mansion residents will have all the shampoo, body washes, and hair conditioner they need by tomorrow.

I’m grateful to the Mansion aides for alerting me to this problem, and to Tania and Alanna for distributing these items to people anxiously awaiting them, and to all of you who send donations, ranging from $5 to $100. Thanks, thanks, thanks, you keep hope and faith alive.

If anyone wishes to contribute to this project and this work, you can do so via Paypal, [email protected], and Venmo, Jon-Katz-13. Any overage will go into our battered and somewhat anemic Mansion and Refugee account. People can also if they prefer, send checks to Jon Katz, Mansion/Refugee Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

We will use every penny we receive and document the purchases through words and photographs.

This is a wonderful thing to be doing anytime, but especially at Christmas. One of the residents messaged me this morning thanking me (and you). She said she was now sure of going to the Mansion Christmas party, “bless you and your people,” she said, “and thank you for not forgetting us.”

She said she would be clean and look good. It was wonderful to get a call like that, and I’m happy to share it with you.