Today, Maria and I are going to Bishop Gibbons High School in Schenectady with sewing machines, fabric, books, and Therapy Dog Zinnia. They will be making her first appearance at a school since Bishop Maginn shut down in June. (The art program urgently needs old sewing patterns. Details below.)

This summer was too hot to drive her around to Schenectady, and we had to get her clearances and approvals to come into the new school.

All that’s done clearance work is done, and it’s a pretty cool day. Sue Silverstein has been crowing that she misses Zinnia, her Dog Godmother, after all. I’m thrilled to renew Zinnia’s therapy work; this work with dogs started everything at the Mansion and with the refugee children.

Nothing lights up faces more than a dog like Zinnia,, who spreads love and light.

Sue has asked me for help getting the Army of Good to send used dress and clothing patterns to Bishop Gibbons; her art students are desperate to make their clothes but need ways to help design them.

I’ve sent two packages of patterns I found on the Internet, but the Mansion/Refugee Fund is much depleted, and the students need more than I can afford to buy.

If you have any old or used clothing and sewing patterns and want to help, please send them to Sue Silverstein, 2600 Albany Street, Schenectady, N.Y., 12304.

If you prefer me to buy some (and you don’t like shopping online), you can send donations to me via Paypal, [email protected] or Venmo, Jon-Katz@Jon-Katz-13, or by check, Jon Katz, Refugee Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. I’ll be happy to buy them.

I hope to write about English Teacher Trish White’s radical reading program and get some photos of the sewing projects underway in her wildly popular art program.

Maria will be working on the sewing machines and teaching sewing, which is becoming wildly popular, thanks to Sue. I’ll report back on our visits later today or tomorrow morning. Thanks.