Merry Christmas

First let me say that we are not waging the so-called "War on Christmas," despite our decidedly un-Christmasy film festival tradition. We have lights up, and our little ceramic Christmas tree, and I'm having just as much fun stocking up on Mediterranean foodstuffs for the film festival as I would have preparing a traditional Christmas meal (whatever the heck that is in my family). But...this year we looked around and decided to give our Christmas gifts to the world instead of to our friends and family. We picked four good organizations and made them our Christmas beneficiaries.

I know there are some who find this approach self-righteous and wet-blankety, and truly, that is not our intention. We're not trying to make a statement. We're not saying everybody should be giving to charity instead of buying Xboxes and Chiapets and books and chocolates. Honest. Some years, I get great joy from picking out gifts, this year just wasn't one of them. Kids will still get gifts from us, because we know they don't want to hear that we sent their Christmas presents to Pakistan. It's quite possible that we're simply too lazy to shop, actually. But regardless, it's what we felt like doing. So, here are our Christmas recipients - good causes all, in case you're looking for some.

Northwest Harvest www.northwestharvest.org
Since September 2005 (after Hurricane Katrina), cash and food donations to foodbanks across the country have been down considerably compared to last year, and the food bank system is feeling the strain. Northwest Harvest secures over 18 million pounds of food for distribution through warehouses across Washington state, supplying food without fees to over 300 food banks and meal programs.

Mercy Corps: www.mercycorps.org
According to a recent report on NPR, the massive earthquake that struck Pakistan and Kashmir this year is the fifth largest natural disaster to occur in our lifetimes, killing approximately 80,000 people. As winter descends on this hard-to-reach region, leaving thousands of people without basic shelter or medical services, this disaster has generated considerably fewer charitable relief contributions than either the Asian tsunami or for Hurricane Katrina.

Global Fund for Women www.globalfundforwomen.org
The Global Fund for Women is a grant-making foundation supporting women’s human rights organizations around the world. The challenges women face vary widely across communities, cultures, religions, traditions, and countries. The Global Fund makes grants to grassroots women's groups based outside the United States working to address human rights issues such as educational access for girls, economic and environmental justice, stopping violence against women, expanding civic and political participation, and advancing health and reproductive rights.

American Civil Liberties Union www.aclu.org
Because freedom can’t defend itself. I think that's enough said on this one.

Merry Christmas!