Today, the Mansion aides were each given their $50 Amazon Gift Cards, purchased last month by the Army Of Good. There are 13 aides at the Mansion, and they each got a card.

I got a lot of thank you’s tonight when I went to the Mansion for Bingo, and I soaked up their stories of being able to buy an extra gift for one of their children, or a coveted heating blanket one was saving up for, or flowers for a sick grandmother at Christmas, or a video game for a young and computer-savvy son.

One was taking her parents out to dinner, another would buy a turkey for Christmas. There were all, I was told, things that could not have been purchased without the gift cards from the Army Of Good.

It made me feel specially wonderful to hear these stories tonight, these people – mostly young women – work incredibly hard and under difficult circumstances.

They love the residents and care for them with much love, gentleness and sensitivity. It is a calling in many ways, I was so  happy to be able to recognize the hard work these people do.

I wish I had more money so they could buy more things for them over the holidays, they are special people, and I have come to know and love many of them. They do so much for the residents, it is far and beyond what they could ever be paid. But the gift cards  were great, and much appreciated.

Their holiday cookies from the AOG are still coming right through Christmas each week, and I’m dropping off buttons from Battenkill Books with funny sayings on them during the holidays.

I’ve also given each of them specially engraved pens thanking them for the work they do.

The photo is of Megan and Tia, two aides on the evening shift, I see them frequently, they are wonderful,  and they wanted me to be sure to thank all of you for the gift cards, it was exciting for them to have an extra $50 during the holidays. It made a huge difference.

I thank you as well. I hope we can recognize the unheralded angels often.