I just received an email from Bookslut contributor Colleen Mondor about donating books to the youngest generation of Katrina survivors:

I am working with a group in Baton Rouge who are helping children sheltered with their families at Southern University. We have put together a couple of wish lists of books and games that the folks at Parkview Baptist Church will happily deliver to the SU kids and other area shelter kids, all of whom would love to have a diversion right now. We are also trying to contact book and comic book reviewers in particular to let them know that any children, young adult or all ages titles they have lying around would certainly be welcome down in Baton Rouge.

If you could mention my project on your site, it would help get the word out. Also, feel free to buy off the lists, and send the links on to everyone you know and pass on my email to anyone who has any questions.

Take care and thank you for your help in spreading the word.

Best,

Colleen Mondor

Mailing Address for Donations:

Josh Causey
Parkview Baptist Church
11795 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA 70816

Kids need books. First Book is one way to help:

First Book is a national nonprofit organization with a single mission: to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books.

[...]

First Book is providing books to children affected by Hurricane Katrina. Every $5 donated to First Book will be matched with one book that will go to children in the devastated areas.

No one knows how long it will take to completely restore the areas hardest hit. In the meantime, books can help children discover new and exciting information, escape to worlds of fantasy and adventure or simply find a smile.

You can donate here.

John Klima just announced that Electric Velocipede no. 9 has sold out. This is a wonderful and unexpected thing, and it's even more fortunate that all of the stories from that issue were posted on the EV website. As a contributor to the issue, I received a few copies as payment. But since I don't really need three copies of the issue, I propose an offer.

The first person to donate $50 to the Red Cross as part of the hurricane relief, and to somehow prove to me that you've done so, will receive a copy of EV#9 from me. As of today, it appears that people are finally being evacuated from NOLA, and the Red Cross is finally getting to put their resources to use, so they need your donations.

I only have one copy to spare, so like I said, it'll go to the first person to prove they donated this money. Either post in the comments of this journal or email me.

UPDATE: deannahoak has won the contest, with her generous donation of $100 to the Red Cross.

Okay, so the contest is over, but you can still donate. And I heartily encourage you to do so.

In a separate note, I'm extremely proud of my alma mater.

My incredible wife has two eBay auctions right now for original pencil drawings, both double-matted.

"Wreckage" is currently up to $26, and there are nearly two days left in the auction. 90% of the proceeds of this sale will support the American Red Cross' current relief efforts.

( See image... )

"Help" is currently up to $9.99, and there are more than two days left in the auction. 100% of the proceeds of this sale will support the American Red Cross' current relief efforts.

( See image... )

Please, bid high and bid often.

via arcaedia, matociquala and ericmarin:

I challenge everyone reading this - if they haven't already - to donate at least $25 (more is good!) to the Red Cross to help in their disaster relief effort.

Here's the link to make a credit card contribution: https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation-form.asp

Then, cut and paste this in your journal and pass it on.

Addendum: I know a lot of you out there can't afford to send even $25 to the Red Cross, and I completely understand. Janet and I just moved and have a lot of other costs we're worrying about right now (immigration, medical, etc.). But even if you only send $5, it helps. Janet is offering an original pencil drawing on eBay, where 90% of the proceeds will go to disaster relief. So please, try to contribute something.