The Army of Good is a massive injection of joy and kindness in a world that tis too often cruel and violent. It keeps hope alive and speaks to the good in many, something our media and politicians fail to notice. So many people are out there eager to do good; they are rarely given the opportunity.
The Army Of Good is in its 7th year and has yet to fail any call for help. I can’t thank you all enough. This work has been a salvation and inspiration for me and has touched the lives of thousands of people. It’s needed now more than ever.
As always, doing good is so much better than arguing about what good is.
This week, another victory for good.
Linda Coleman has been responding to calls for help for some time now, and her latest generosity involves boxes of ribbons and warm and filling morning snacks for children who don’t get to eat breakfast for several reasons.
Last week, I asked for help replenishing Sue’s noodle boxes and granola bars.
As long as I have known her, Sue has an unmarked shelf in her classroom devoted to these snacks and gives them to students who need a warm and healthy breakfast. Sue is never one to tout her own horn, but I’m happy to do it. She is a saint.
Some have parents who are out working in the morning (most refugee parents have two or even three jobs), and some have parents who have little money and can’t find work.
They come to Sue’s class early for hot noodle soup kits or healthy protein and granola bars.
A few weeks ago, her stocks got low. One of her students, Isaiah, raised money for interim food. The Army of good is rushing to respond, food is coming in, and thank you.
Sue opens her classroom early so the kids who need a warm breakfast are not embarrassed or seen by their peers. I was surprised to learn how quickly those supplies ran out.
Linda Coleman responded as she has done so many times before. Thank you, Linda, you make the world a better place.
I am reprinting Sue’s note to Linda about her donations and Linda’s response. Linda has sent fabric to Sue, and now, snacks for the needy.
Sue to Linda:
Hi Linda and Jon! So many excellent healthy snacks have been arriving! Thank you so much to both of you! Jon for your help and love, and Linda for such generosity and love!
___
This makes me feel that my life is full of meaning and joy and that these cold and hungry children have a warm and healthy breakfast to boost their energy and start their day. It has touched my heart to see those children line up early for their breakfast.
Thanks, Linda, Sue, and the Army Of Good.
The school is closing for the Christmas break next week, and packages will be difficult to deliver. After New Year’s, please donate discarded things for Sue’s art class, noodle boxes, and energy bars to Sue Silverstein, Bishop Gibbons High School, 2600 Albany Street, Schenectady, New York, 12308.
(Sue continuously needs acrylic paint, brushes, and canvases. Sue Silverstein, Bishop Gibbons High School, 2600 Albany Street, Schenectady, New York, 12308.)
The breakfast donations are manna from heaven.
It’s weird that you keep calling that Lipton instant soup “healthy.” It’s all sodium and trans fat, with no protein or complex carbs. It (and ramen, its close cousin) tops every nutritionist do-not-eat list. Sue might as well be feeding the kids twinkies, for all the nutritional good it does them. (I’m an RN and a diabetes consultant.)
Emily as a diabetic, I appreciate both your work and concern. I do not beliee it is my busines to tell Sue Silverstein, the parents and the students what food they should eat and what food they shouldn’t eat. As a diabetic I’ve learned a great deal the hard way about what is health (I’m having six crab claws for dinner along iwth some spinach) but I do not believe I have the right to tell other peple what to do or eat.
This is the job of the staff, the students and their families. It mahy not be the healthiest food on earth, but it is what people can afford and it is better than the alternative, which is nothing. Some of these families are in extreme poverty and can’t always afford what you think they should eat.I know they can’t. And no one has the money to apply to it.
As a nurse, you have learned a lot the hard way, but I don’t believe that gives you the right to criticize these kids and their families either. Peoople in poverty have hard choices to make. In the winter, being warm is also critical.I prefer not to be pious,I would lose their trust.
You don’t kknow them or their circumstances. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’m happy to post them. On reflection, I did, after reading your message, deleted “healthy” from my mention of the snacks. I’m not a nutritionist but I do believe in truth. Weird is not the right word either, if you are dictating terminology. THe issue is accuracy, not weirdness.