Commentary: We could use your help

We are a nonprofit, all-volunteer group of about 60 people who have been publishing the information you need to protect and improve your neighborhood for more than 31 years.

Literally thousands have been volunteers over the years, maybe even you.

About 16,000 people read the magazine and 500 to 700 people read the web site each month.

Every dollar you contribute goes to meet the basic costs " printing, office supplies and mailing. That - about $2,400 a month and increasing.

All of our equipment (computers, fax machine, copy machine and other office equipment and furniture) was donated by our readers.

Without your help we would not exist.

Community groups and publications in Flint have come and gone in the past 31 years, but East Village Magazine has established a place in Flint unrivaled by any other publication or group. There is probably not a publication with our history anywhere else in the country.

What would you lose if the contributions dried up?

There would be no great photographs of the landmarks and people of our community " more than 1,900 since 1976, all on the web site.

There would be no insightful columns by Jan Worth-Nelson and delightful drawings by Patty Warner that deal with the immutable things in our lives.

There would be no events column that documents the fun things you can do in Flint.

There would be no features about the people and groups that make a difference in every Flint resident - life.

There would be no coverage of the Flint Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals and Historic District Commission that make the decisions that affect every resident of Flint.

There would be no coverage of your neighborhood groups that determine what your neighborhood is.

And, most importantly, there would be no extensive coverage of things like the battle to save Manning Street.

We have added eastvillagemagazine.org, our web site, a second way to provide you this information.

Those of you with access to the web can get even more information than in the magazine alone " stories we did not have room to run in the magazine, every story run in the magazine for more than 15 years, every picture we have run in the magazine since we started more than 31 years ago, 30 or more news releases from nonprofit organizations a week and additional stories and poetry by Jan Worth-Nelson and other members of our community.

We hope you will support us by contributing time as a writer, adverting sales person or distributor. We provide basic training in community journalism. Thousands of people have volunteered since we began and many have received training that has helped them succeed in journalism or other professions.

If this Christmas you get a new computer (or other computer equipment such as printers), consider contributing your unwanted equipment to us. We will give them a good home.

And, most importantly, we hope you will continue to contribute the money that make the magazine and web site possible.

Remember, the information we can provide you is directly dependent on the support you provide.

If you already contribute, think about contributing a little more. If you are not a contributor, we hope you will become one.

All contributions are tax-deductible.

Let - put your support in perspective.

Isn't it worth the cost of a dinner out one night a year?

How about giving up one television show a month to distribute the magazine to your neighbors?

Would you give up four or five television programs a month to write stories, sell ads, help us with our web site or do some other task?

It is important for you to help us maintain and improve the quality of life in your neighborhood and your city by contributing equipment, time and money.

We hope you will help us help you during our winter fund-raising campaign.

Have a joyous holiday season and a happy new year.

G.P.C.