Nepal Earthquake: Where to Donate

I have spent some of the happiest times of my life in Nepal. On a clear morning in mid-November when the monsoon is a fading memory and the flowers are in full bloom, the immense snow peaks of the Annapurna Range are the grandest sight on earth. Then there are the people — courageous, generous, humorous — who embody cheerful stoicism in the face of constant hardship. The villages of the Himalayan foothills may be beautiful, but the terrain is steep, the soil is poor, the winters are cold, and the children who live there still routinely succumb to meningitis, typhoid and dysentery.

Now this: A huge earthquake that has toppled the ancient temples of the Kathmandu Valley and killed thousands. It is almost too distressing to contemplate. But we can help; we who are so much more fortunate. The people of Nepal are in urgent need of medicine, food and clean water. Soon they will require assistance to rebuild their shattered towns and villages. So I urge you to donate to one of the following charities. Your dollars will never have been spent in a more worthy cause.

• International Medical Corps
• World Food Programme
• American Red Cross

Thank you.