A good month to do good.

December is here again, which means the holiday season can't be far off. While this is the traditional time for giving and getting gifts, it's also a great time to think about those less fortunate than us and about causes and organizations that can really use our help. That's why I am devoting this column to publicizing some of the organizations I know of that deserve your support. I donate to several of these groups myself. Whether your donation is personal or corporate, it will do a great deal of good. I've tried to pick organizations that are in some way involved in or can use donations from the paper industry.

Historic RittenhouseTown

This non-profit group is preserving a crucial part of the history of the U.S. paper industry. I first learned of this group in 1990 while researching a special edition of PIMA Magazine marking the 300th Anniversary of the U.S. paper industry (1690-1990). I've visited this fascinating site and encourage you to do likewise.

Once a thriving 18th century industrial village. Historic RittenhouseTown is a preserved colonial community and a National Historic landmark. It is located on the Monoshone Creek in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. This seven-house village was the site of the first hand paper mill in America. Wilhelm Rittenhausen arrived from Holland in 1688 and within two years built a mill to manufacture fine white paper. It remained the center of papermaking in America for nearly 100 years.

Historic RittenhouseTown Inc., formed in 1984, has more than 600 members. Together with the Fairmount Park Commission, it is involved in researching, preserving, restoring, and interpreting the site. Historic RittenhouseTown also offers workshops on hand papermaking, tours for school groups and camps, and special tours for historical, university, and senior groups. Historic RittenhouseTown was hit hard by Tropical Storm Jeanne earlier this year and suffered flood damage. More than US$ 40,000 has been spent on the cleanup, which is continuing. For more information, call [phone], or go to www.rittenhousetown.org.

The Nature Conservancy

This organization has worked extensively with the pulp and paper industry (among others) to preserve vital open spaces. Its mission is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.

The Nature Conservancy works with communities, businesses and other organizations by using a "science-based plan" and a non-confrontational approach to conservation. To date, The Nature Conservancy has protected 14.3 million acres of land in the United States and 39,700 acres of land in Canada. In Central America, South America, Mexico and the Caribbean, the total is 83.5 million acres. In the Asia-Pacific region, the group has protected 18.4 million acres. Information is at www.nature.org.

National Association for the Exchange of Industrial Resources (NAEIR)

Founded in 1977, NAEIR is a non-profit, gifts-in-kind organization that accepts donations of new, overstock, usable seconds, or discontinued products and redistributes them to schools, churches, and non-profit organizations. Donations can earn companies a federal income tax deduction of up to twice the cost of the goods. Over 7000 companies have contributed to NAEIR. For a donation information kit, call 1 800 562-0955, or email [e-mail].

Second Harvest

America's Second Harvest seeks to create a hunger-free America. This organization distributes food and grocery products through a nationwide network of certified affiliates, increases public awareness of domestic hunger, and advocates for policies that benefit America's hungry. The Second Harvest network includes more than 200 food banks and food-rescue organizations and it depends on the cooperation of food banks, food-rescue organizations, service agencies, donors, and national programs. While Second Harvest primarily distributes food, it also takes donations of non-food grocery products including paper products. For information, go to www.secondharvest.org.

The work of these and other important organizations depends on the generosity of individuals and companies. If you are thinking about giving, remember that noted philanthropist, Ebeneezer Scrooge. Of course we tend to think of the mean, parsimonious Scrooge of the first part of the classic novel, A Christmas Carol, instead, focus on the "post-miracle" Scrooge, when it comes to giving:

"Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more;
and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as
good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city
knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old
world."--Charles Dickens

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ALAN ROOKS

Editorial Director

Contact Alan at [phone], or by e-mail at [e-mail]