Charitable gestures

It may turn me into a a bitter grump, but it seems that the cold weather has an altruistic effect on other people. This week, my email box has been inundated with notices about various charitable endeavors. Here are two that caught my eye:

• Local photographer Emilie Sommer, of emilie inc photography, is holding a raffle for a $5,000 wedding-photo package. Raffle tix are $50; a winner will be chosen at random. "We believe a stunning wedding portfolio should be attainable regardless of how your financial portfolio is doing," the press release reads. Proceeds will benefit Sommer's breast cancer charity, the Pink Initiative.

• Munjoy Hill glass artist Laura Fuller is raffling off this piece; proceeds will help her pay for a March volunteer trip to an orphanage in Harare, Zimbabwe. More info, about the trip and the raffle, is at laurafullerdesign.com.