Hello!
I am not sure why we leave shows of gratitude and moments of reflection for the last months of the year, but I am following tradition. This newsletter is about giving thanks and reflecting about what else we can do.
This year, I want to say thank you to Charlesbridge Publishing and Roaring Brook Press for donating around 100 books each to the Craven County Partners in Education, in New Bern, NC, a community severely affected by Hurricane Florence. In particular, thank you to Alyssa Mito Pusey (Charlesbridge) and Emily Feinberg (Roaring Brook) for communicating to their companies this incredible opportunity to make a difference.
Thank you as well to the authors and other members of RMC-SCBWI who also donated books to the Craven County Partners in Education. I don't know everyone's names, but here are a few: Tara Dairman, Kim Tomsic, Maria Faulconer, Wendi Silvano, Dow Phumiruk, and Nina Adams. And thank you to everyone else who anonymously responded to the book drive.
Unfortunately, Hurricane Florence wasn't the only tragedy to strike the United States in 2018. There were many. In 2013, I witnessed the Black Forest Fire, in Colorado, which burned over 14,000 acres, destroyed more than 500 homes, and killed two people. It was Colorado's most devastating wildfire. Yet, the numbers look small when compared to the recent wildfires in California. Paradise, CA, and other surrounding communities, will need all the help they can get. If you wish to contribute to their recovery efforts, the New York Times came up with a list of organizations seeking donations.
Although donations are needed and appreciated, there are other things we can do as well. Most scientists agree that "human-caused climate change" is behind the spike in the number of wildfires. The Natural Resources Defense Council, a non-profit international environmental advocacy group, came up with a list of things we can do to help fight climate change. While I can't claim to do everything they list and there are things I simply cannot afford, some actions are certainly becoming new year's resolutions.
Happy Holidays!
Ana
