Sue Silverstein has already raised more than $2000 in cash for her food aid requests, and judging from my e-mail, a lot more money and food is coming. The first load of boxes arrived this morning, and they were impressive. Some made their own good choices; some leaned heavily on the list I posted the other day of what protein means and how it can support the breakfast food aid project.

We appreciate the health consciousness in the donations. Protein and vitamins are essential.

Thanks for that. It is now possible to send sealed cottage cheese packets to the school. Amazon sells packets of cottage and string cheese for protein, which are sealed for shipment. Please don’t be deterred by the generous donations; all the food sent will be used and given to children who need it. They go out fast.

They need children’s vitamin supplements as well.

You can see from the food arriving that people included protein hea, thy soups, and canned beans. Sue’s classroom opens early every day for kids who are hungry, cold, or from struggling families to get a healthy breakfast for their health and bodies and for the energy needed to get going on a school day.

Don’t forget the art. Sue’s students never stop making beautiful art, thanks to your donations. You can send any unused or discarded or forgotten items from wood to jewelry to clothing to new paint and brushes to Sue Silverstein, Bishop Gibbons, 2600 Albany Street, Schenectady, N.Y., 12304.

Some of these children are tired, and cases of diagnosis and possible anemia worry Sue. People picked up on her request for protein snacks and those with vitamins.

Please keep the food coming if you can; it will all be used to comfort those children and keep them healthy. It also reminds them of what it means to be an American, not what greedy and deranged congresspeople think it should mean.

I won’t forget visiting Sue early one morning and seeing the line of children awaiting their hot soup protein bars and peanut butter snacks. The first thing we did was get these refugee children shoes and socks for the winter. Some came to class in sandals. Upstate winters can be severe, even with climate change.

Thank you for doing the Lord’s work. It never really stops, and the Army of Good never fails. And thanks to the Catholic Church for being so supportive of the food support program.