For the third time in three years, I’ve been told to stay away from the Mansion and Bishop Maginn High School.

It isn’t personal; people in both places say they won’t let me near either place until they are sure it is safe for me, Covid wise.

“We’re not letting you near her for a week,” the Mansion told me. “Come in a week,” said Silverstein, “we won’t have you getting sick.”

When I’m shut out of both places, I get disoriented.

I search for ways to help. Flowers for each dining room table are something that the residents appreciate and lift their spirits.

And we’ve made sure Bishop Maginn students get the prom they want. I picked up 12 floral table settings today; Heidi at Country Power is charging me only $10 a bouquet, which is at least half what I would pay anywhere else.

I hope to make this a regular thing with the Mansion, fresh flowers for the dining room tables once or twice a month, depending on how long the flowers last.

I got a great price from Heidi, I’m determined to get those flowers on the tables, it means a lot.

I’ll drop them off tomorrow, but I can’t come into the building. Next week, Maria and I hope to visit Bishop Maginn High School, where I will meet with the Prom Committee and hopefully profile another of the students.

I will wear a mask and observe social distancing. The move to another school in the fall will be exciting for the refugee kids and me.

The flowers are one thing I believe we can do every few weeks to keep the tables fresh. We sent about $200 worth of bulbs, soil, seeds, and vegetables to the Mansion to they could begin work on their beautiful garden. Thank you.

I’m told that the Mansion is also preparing an Amazon Mansion Wish List seeking help in purchasing unique puzzles, calming tools, and some toys for the residents of the Memory Care Unit.

I know times are tight, but thanks for your contributions. One woman in Missippi sent me $4 in crumpled one-dollar bills. She said it was all she could spare; she would skip some dog treats this week.

I send her a good-sized bag of dog treats – three-day shipping – from Chewy.com. I didn’t want to sleep with that on my conscience.

The contributions are beginning to come in, and thank you. Via Paypal, it’s [email protected]; via Venmo, it’s Jon-Katz@Jon-Katz 13. By mail, it’s Jon Katz, Mansion Refugee Fund, P.O.Box 502, Cambridge, N.Y.

It feels good to do good. I’m bringing the flowers in the morning.