I’ve always seen the Army Of Good as the real America, not the one you see in the news daily.

We transcend the notion of America as irretrievably broken and split. We have conservatives and progressives, red and blue, right and left, North and South, East and West, young and old, rich and poor,  men and women, Trump people and Biden people. Nobody asks who people are or what they believe, and nobody asks for labels or judges one another; they do good again and again.

Given a chance to do good, the Army of Good repeatedly demonstrates that most Americans want to do good rather than argue about what good is.

For the 25th or 26th time, we have sold out most of our Wish Lists in hours, not days. This one really flew.

This is all about love and trust and empathy, and community.

I believe this is the true America. Some people sent me $5 yesterday via Paypal so they could help.

Several people who don’t like shopping online sent me $100, which also helped me buy more clothes and boots.

Even in difficult and sometimes frightening times, people will read into their pockets and bank accounts to help other people.

What could be more uplifting than that? What better proof of the power of the human heart?

And trust me, it will never be on the news, even though it happens all the time, everywhere.

Sue Silverstein, the hero of this chapter, canvassed the families in her school community and figured out what they most needed – refugees and inner-city kids and all kids – and put together her annual winter warmth wish list to help needy students and their families handle the harsh weather that is coming here soon, as always, climate change or no.

Bishop Gibbons High School is setting aside a room in the school for people to come and take what they need to be warm – protein sneaks for kids with no breakfast, winter shoes and boots, sweaters, scarves, beanie caps, warm jackets, personal hygiene kits, and socks.

I told the school to be prepared for a wave of Amazon packages Friday and Monday.

They are getting used to this; old jewelry boxes are still pouring in, as are old metal, beads, and books from Alaska.

In the Army of Good, we don’t ask if people are red or blue or right or left; we help people who need help, a deeply embedded American tradition and one of the many things I love about this country. I believe empathy and compassion will prevail.

The Army of Good helps to ground me and inspire me; we have done so much good together, following the idea of the little way, the small brush, and the small acts of great kindness. They add up.

It is a pleasure and an honor to work with you and Sue Silverstein; she is as close to knowing a saint as I have come. And it is a joy to think about the many vulnerable people we have just helped to be warm this winter.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. You help keep hope and empathy alive.