Editor:

I am sure many of you are as surprised as I am to hear about Humboldt Baykeeper's financial troubles and that it is being forced to dramatically downsize ("Rough Waters," Dec. 12). Unfortunately, this news illustrates exactly the point that I have been speaking of through various local media channels: We, as a community, need to increase our support and philanthropic giving for local public-interest nonprofit organizations or we will lose them.

We cannot take our local nonprofits for granted and assume that someone else will step up and support their missions, which for most is to serve the people and community of this region. I often hear that people support the work of an organization, but now is the time to put those sentiments into action. Make a financial contribution to the local organizations you value — before it is too late. For the wild!

Natalynne DeLapp, Arcata