gifts.
I used to have links to an amazon.com wish list here, but after the world went (quickly) to hell in a handbasket, I realized how unnecessary it is for me to get more stuff. I am really lucky to not need any gifts for birthdays or Christmas. Instead of a gift for me, if you could make a donation to your favorite charity, that would be great. Besides doing something good for a charity, YOU get the tax break. Sweet. I have also included some ideas below. Thanks.


The New Orleans Public Library Foundation

Like access to good food, health care and schools, a society should be judged by the access it gives its citizens to information. Several years ago, the New Orleans Public Library Board of Directors, realizing that the library's millage would not be able to provide adequate funding for all of the library's essential services, founded and incorporated the New Orleans Public Library Foundation.It supports the New Orleans Public Library in serving the people of our city by raising capital and endowment funds. Tax dollars can't do it alone.

I hope you conisder giving to the New Orleans Public Library. It's tax deductible and essential. In such a poor city, its existence is a critical service to the community, providing access to the internet along with books and magazines. I also hope you remember to use your library as well.
New Orleans Public Library Foundation
219 Loyola Avenue, 3rd Floor
New Orleans, LA 70112-2044
(504) 596-2652
http://www.nutrias.org/~nopl/foundation/beqform2.htm

Second Harvesters

Second Harvesters is a national organization that distributes food to the needy that would otherwise be wasted .

Second Harvesters Food Bank of Greater New Orleans
1201 Sams Avenue
New Orleans LA 70123-2236
504-734-1322
http://www.secondharvest.org

American Friends Service Committee

American Friends is a Quaker organization committed to social justice, peace and humanitarian service.

American Friends Service Committee
1501 Cherry Street
Philadelphia, PA 19182
888-588-2372
http://www.afsc.org

Children's Defense Fund

The Children's Defense Fund acts as a lobby for poor and underserved children in the US.

The Children's Defense Fund
25 E Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-628-8787
http://www.childrensdefense.org

Doctors Without Borders

Volunteer physicians and others make up Doctors Without Borders, who delivers emergency medical attention to victims of war or disaster in isolated countries. They are currently treating refugees in Pakistan and some parts of Afghanistan.

Doctors Without Borders
6 East 39th Street
8th floor
NEW YORK, NY 10016
212-679-6800
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org

Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch acts as an investigator and documentarian of human rights issues around the world.

Human Rights Watch
350 Fifth Avenue, 34th floor
New York, NY 10118-3299 USA
212-290-4700,
http://www.hrw.org/

Technoserve

Technoserve works to assist entreprenuers in developing countries through small loans and business advice to help them achieve financial independence.

Technoserve
49 Day Street
Norwalk, CT 06854
203-852-0377
http://www.technoserve.org/

Tom Paine.com

Tom Paine.com offers opinion on current events, public policy and media and describes itself as a "watchdog of the watchdogs."

Tom Paine.com
P.O. Box 53303
Washington, D.C. 20009
http://www.TomPaine.com

Alternet

Alternet is an alternative media organization that focuses on stories and issues ignored by mainstream media.

AlterNet/Independent Media Institute
77 Federal Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
415-284-1420
http://www.alternet.org

Thanks and peace.

EM
Edward Melendez
504-949-2824

http://www.melendez.org