A good cause. For reals!

Ok, so, look: I didn't hit y'all up this year for donations to a charity bike ride. (I was actually entirely too busy to do one of these great rides, which is pretty sad.)

Good friends who operate a really fantastic nonprofit in Alderson, West Virginia, have a fundraising call out. The Alderson Hospitality House is asking for the very small donation of $10. (Well, lots of those, hopefully.)

The Alderson Hospitality House is so warm, so full of kindness and beauty and hope, that it's hard to express in words. I've had the extraordinary opportunity to visit a few times.

I have already donated the full $100, and encourage any of you who can to consider donating any amount that makes sense for you. If you can, match me! If you can't, please give whatever you can.

The Alderson Hospitality House provides hospitality to the families of women incarcerated at the Federal Prison Camp at Alderson:

The Alderson Hospitality House supports the women of the Federal Prison Camp Alderson and their friends and families. We believe in the importance of visitors during incarceration. Our volunteers and staff, through donations, demonstrate this belief by providing temporary lodging, meals, transportation assistance, information and support.
Since AHH opened in 1977, there have been more than 50,000 overnight guests from all over the world.  We do not charge for our services, but rely only on the generosity of our guests and friends of the house for operating funds.  We are not part of, nor do we receive any assistance from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, any church or religious organization, any government entity or any corporation.  Our staff, who live and work at AHH, and Board of Directors, who are local community leaders, are all volunteers.

Below is the fundraising pitch for this. As though any more than going through the website is needed. (Really: please go through their website.)

The Alderson Hospitality House needs your help to continue offering free housing and meals to our guests. 

Some of the most important visitors to the House are the children of the women incarcerated at the Federal Prison Camp. They come in all ages, all colors, and most importantly, they all miss their mothers. The children travel from all over the country to spend just a few short hours with mom in the visiting room. Our job at the Hospitality House is to make these children feel as comfortable as possible. A beautiful playroom with lots of toys, home-cooked meals, and a listening ear are just a few of the ways we accomplish this goal. After an emotional day of behaving in the visiting room, it is important to let the children play and get their energy out. Our house is here for them during this difficult time.

I need your help to keep the doors open for these children and their families. I have to find 10 people willing to give 10 dollars in the next 10 days. Will you help me out? It's simple. Just click on the link below and click on the amount you are willing to give. Don't wait, click now before the 10 days disappear.

http://www.razoo.com/story/10-In-10

Thanks for your support.