Sandy storm relief

This week, I’ve been getting back into the hard, eye-numbing work of researching literary agents with whom I might like to work.

Most of them are based in New York and are, either literally or very nearly literally, under water right now.

So are a lot of publishing houses, a lot of writers, and some of my dearest friends. Writer and teacher Kristen Keckler, actor, director, and theater teacher Isaac Byrne; Jersey Devil Press content editor Mike Sweeney; writer Julie Innis; writer Shya Scanlon; university professor and poet Patrick Bahls…. These are just some of the people I know and love who were in the path of the storm last night.

I’ve heard from most of these friends and I believe all of them are okay. But a huge swath of the nation, from Mid-Atlantic to New England and inland as far as the Great Lakes, were hammered by super-storm Sandy, and today, the good people of Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia need your help.

If you want to help, your first and easiest stop should be to the American Red Cross. But you can also donate more specifically to other groups. An article today on Salon.com offers some good suggestions; so does a piece at ABC News.

Also consider contacting you local charities and relief organizations and seeing what you can organize to send in bulk, whether it’s food, first aid supplies, clothing and blankets, or manual labor.

And if you have any other ideas for ways to help, please, leave a comment. And if you have a blog of your own, spread the word.