Donate Dickens (and Austen, and Shakespeare, and . . .)

(Cross-posted at Dickensblog.)

This morning I came across an article about the devastation caused by Typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines.

Damaged textbooks and workbooks for public school students will be replaced by the Department of Education, but not all other books. Whether used or new, books don’t stand a chance against mud and water, and had to be all thrown out. Many public schools need donations of story books (series from Scholastics, Adarna, Anvil, Hiyas, Lampara; classics like Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen etc.), reference books (encyclopedia, dictionaries, atlases, charts), SRA kits, wall clocks, bookshelves, copiers, tables and chairs for their libraries.

As you'd expect, the word Dickens got my creative juices flowing!

I've started a campaign to donate classic books -- including Dickens books, but other classic books as well -- to the Filipino schools. My friend Jason, who's from the Philippines and has been helping with the disaster relief there, will take care of getting the money where it needs to go.

Click here to send an online donation. If you'd prefer to send a check, please send it to Student Christian Movement of the Philippines, c/o Jason Bruce, 6139 Leesburg Pike, Unit 107, Falls Church, VA 22041. Make the check out to Student Christian Movement of the Philippines and put "Classic books donation" in the memo line. (Don't send any actual books; only money will be accepted.)

We thank you -- and, I suspect, so would Mr. Dickens if he were here!