Dear Editor:

As we near the holiday season, we often challenge ourselves to give the best gifts to those we love.

My good friend Landis recently reminded me of how fortunate EVERY­ONE we know is, and how great it would be if for Christmas or Hanukkah, whichever you celebrate, to instead, donate to Doctors Without Borders in honor of those you were going to pur­chase gifts for.

There are different ways to donate, to learn more please check their website at: http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/home.cfm What can a donation do?

Your donation and what it can pro­vide:

$35: Two high-energy meals a day to 200 children.

$50: Vaccinations for 50 people against meningitis, measles, polio or other deadly epidemics.

$70: Two basic suture kits to repair minor shrapnel wounds.

$100: Infection-fighting antibiotics to treat nearly 40 wounded children.

$250: A sterilization kit for syringes and needles used in mobile vaccination campaigns.

$500: A medical kit containing basic drugs, supplies, equipment and dressings to treat 1,500 patients for three months.

$1,000: Emergency medical supplies to aid 5,000 disaster victims for an entire month.

$5,500: An emergency health kit to care for 10,000 displaced people for three months.

Best wishes this holiday season.

Jennifer Donovan

Basalt