Thanks to you and the good in  your hearts, this RISSE classroom is changing by the day. Everything that these children are painting and writing and studying – pencils, paint, markers,, books, bins,  came from your contributions to the wish list, I thank Cassidy and Cheryl at RISSE for keeping up with us, they are tired but happy.

Your new lamps and carpets for the floors are on the way. The RISSE refugee and immigrant after school program is located in several drafty rooms on the top floor of a Methodist Church in Albany, N.Y. Federal aid for refugees and immigrants – including tuition add for learning classes – is being slashed or eliminated.

RISSE can’t fund the improvements they so urgently need, so our help is critical and valuable and immediate. These kids are just drinking up the learning software and painting kits and puzzles and wall boards and lights, and on the way, some carpets. Your clothing donations continue to pour in, I see all these warm and colorful sweaters and jackets on these kids, they were not on them before.

I call it the Amazing Shrinking RISSE Amazon Wish List, it is down to three items again, a Rubbermaid 2-gallon Victory Jug for $21, and some poster-hanging and some poster hanging strips – they only need 3 more – for $5.67.

I bought a game and one of the poster strips. The $522 outdoor trash can for the playground is still there, now the longest laughing wish list item, an orphan. I told them that one might take awhile, unless some wealthy people come across the blog. You never know, I told Cassidy and Cheryl I suspect it will be there a long time, a fixed point in a shrinking list.

Cassidy is on her toes, I imagine the list will grow again shortly. Some of the household items are going to families, the rest to the school. I’ll  go back next week and see what has changed. I’m glad the carpets are coming, they will make a huge difference. RISSE helps 200 refugee and immigrant children and more than 1,000 adults.