Bedlam Farm Blog Journal by Jon Katz

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.

I am deeply moved and overwhelmed with gratitude. Several different people contacted Sue Silverstein to pledge $1,500, $500, and hundreds more to purchase healthy breakfast food with protein, iron, and vitamins for the students in Bishop Gibbons High School and Sue Silverstein’s art class. I won’t sleep tonight.

Once again, the Army of Good continued its excellent history of helping young and older people in need. I’m not sure about God, but if he exists, he is believed to consider helping the needy and the vulnerable, especially the poor, a holy and sacred thing.

Whatever our faith, we are called on to help and love people experiencing poverty and embrace the small acts of great kindness that have made a difference in many lives.

Sue sent me this message tonight (she is frantic trying to get a sick student some medical care): “I am simply stunned and humbled by the tremendous outpouring of love and kindness. When there is need, the Army Of Good shines.”

In addition to those cash donations that Sue is receiving, I know of at least a score of other people in the blogging community sending food, soup, vitamins, peanut butter, and protein bars to Sue for the warm and nutritious breakfasts she offers the children who come to her classroom to get something to eat in the morning.

Some come from low-income families; some walk to school in the cold, and others’ parents are so busy they can’t be home for breakfast. Some can’t afford to feed their families three meals a day. A healthy breakfast gives them energy and keeps them warm, healthy, and strong.

For some years now, Sue has been spending her money to have soup and other snacks available to students who come to her classroom early in the morning. She keeps running out of snacks and running out of money. It was a brawl, but she agreed to let me help.

Several years ago, I told her we would provide healthy snacks if she ran out of them or ran out of money. Others have contributed steadily for some time.

(The need for this support is urgent and real, any overage of donations will go to keep these supplies flowing. For more information about what is needed, please read my blog story yesterday. She will use and need all of the help she receives. None will go to waste, the need will not vanish.)

But right now,  things are tough out there, and she is getting low on her snacks, and a few children are showing signs of being anemic. I thought it was time to move again, and I am so grateful for the response. Tonight, Sue was working frantically to get medical attention for one of her students who was ill. We are not people comfortable letting young children suffer, even if our government and so many Americans and politicians have abandoned them.

Please do not accept the words of anyone who tries to tell you that we are a cruel and uncaring country. Good people everywhere are eager to do good and help people experiencing poverty. That’s the genuine American that I know and love. Thank you to those sending checks and those sending food. It will all be used and put to good use.

Sue just texted me: “Kids will eat healthier and be healthier! Bless you all.” Bless you all, indeed. You, too, Sue, are the only angel I know, a wonderful friend.