As many of those reading my journal know, almost two years ago, Tucson writer Katherine Lawrence (aka kathlaw) took her own life.
In her memory, Karen Williams is participating in the Out of the Darkness Overnight, walking from dusk until dawn to raise money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
If you were a friend of Katherine’s, or if you’ve lost someone else in your life to suicide (and since her death, I’ve been startled to realize how many people have)–or if you just want to contribute to a worthy cause and maybe help make this less prevalent an issue in the future–you can support Karen and the Overnight by visiting Karen’s donation page.
Fellow kids’ book writer and New Orleans resident Whitney Stewart sent me the following; she’s a volunteer with the program and I’ve confirmed with her that yes, they really can take donations at this time: Calling all children’s book writers and illustrators: I recently returned to New Orleans to find the city in shambles. So little has been done in the past five months. But I see pockets of hope. One public school—Sophie B.—has reopened as a charter middlddle school and is now partnering with Tulane University. Tulane students will help tutor the Sophie B. students in grades 4 – 8 through a program called For the Children. I am also a volunteer tutor for this program. Sophie B. has a miserable library and no librarian. But Tulane students seek children’s book donations for a new library at Sophie B. If any of you have children’s books to donate, we would be grateful. New Orleans kids would love them. Please send them to: Many thanks, ETA: Monetary donations can also be accepted, made out to FOR THE CHILDREN. For more information, contact Monica Ponoroff at forthechildren@law.tulane.edu
For The Children Reading Program
c/o Monica Ponoroff
6025 Pitt Street
New Orleans, LA 70118
Whitney Stewart