Not too late to help

Herka Serame, 6, was evacuated to the U.S. after the earthquake in Haiti. She and her family are among those being helped by the nonprofit organizations profiled in this year's Season of Sharing Wishbook.

Doctors Without Borders. Portland Sunshine Division. Union Gospel Mission. Mercy Corps.

Those are just some of nonprofits whose pleas for end-of-year donations have arrived in the mail in recent days. All worthy charities, for sure. All of which we've contributed to in the past. This week, though, The Oregonian's Season of Sharing Wishbook bobbed to the top of the list.

In early November, we published the annual Wishbook, profiling 20 agencies that help some of the most vulnerable people in the Portland area and other communities across Oregon -- seniors, refugees, foster children, homeless students, quadriplegics and other people with disabilities.

Among these 20 unsung nonprofits are:
-- Sisters of the Road, which has a 30-year record of serving meals to the homeless for $1.25 in cash or food stamps or for 15 minutes of work.
-- The Healing Center, which for 17 years has run a camp for sexually abused children on the north Oregon coast.
-- Snow Cap, which for 43 years has served seniors and low-income people in east Multnomah County with food box deliveries and a food pantry.
-- Clackamas Women's Services, which for 25 years has assisted women fleeing their abusers and, sadly, still turns away 150 calls for help each month because its two shelters are perpetually full.

As a former editor of the Wishbook, I know that these 20 agencies represent just a sliver of the needs that are being met. I also know that the editors, photographers, reporters and page designers who collaborate on each year's telling of the stories pour their heart into it. This year it was staff photographer Jamie Francis' turn. Click on the link to see his marvelous photo gallery.

I mailed our check this week. And yesterday I joined my peers in raising a few hundred more dollars through a silent auction held in the newsroom. I came home with a bottle of wine as a tangible reminder to urge anyone who reads this blog to consider his or her ability to give and help the charity of your choice. It's not to late to help.

Merry Christmas.

Photograph by Jamie Francis, The Oregonian.