Menu for Hope V : a Paris Map dated 1937.

You may remember last year's charitable fund drive to feed children school lunches in Lesotho. This year, we're doing it again! In this project, administered by the Word Food Program, all proceeds will go a school lunch program for a community in Lesotho, Africa. Pim sent a box of disposible cameras to the community and asked them to take pictures themselves. Go to her blog and look again at these beautiful photographs, friends. They are are simply stunning and I will say again that they add a face and a real story to our holiday charitable giving.

The genius in this event is that not only can you give to keep these children fed at school, but you can also win prizes! In a nutshell, each $10 donation puts you in the running to win the prize of your choice, from a whole list of great ones donated by chefs, foodbloggers, and food professionals around the world. Think of each $10 you donate as a ticket to win. You choose the prizes! Winners will be announced on January 9th. To see all of the prizes worldwide, see Pim's global list, and to see the prizes donated by European food bloggers, go to see Sara of Ms. Adventures in Italy, our regional host this year.

So what will be the prize this year? A special map. While cleaning out the secretary, I found an old map, folded behind a drawer, from the year 1937. I knew immediately that this would make a great prize for the Menu for Hope raffle this year.

Prize No. EU19 - Shipped Anywhere in the World

Prize no. EU19: This old map of Paris, dated 1937, features miniature illustrations of the great monuments of Paris as markers, and on the reverse side, a map of Paris' outskirts, also with illustrations of the chateaux and places of interest surrounding the city. The dimensions are 75x55 cms landscape, and would make a striking and beautiful decorative piece floated in a frame, anywhere in your home. The problem is going to be deciding which side to display, frankly. About the map itself: It is one of the maps that were printed by Printemps for distribution to visitors to Paris for the 1937 Expo Internationale. Note in the upper left hand corner is a box explaining how to get to the Expo from Printemps. It has fold marks typical of an 80 year old map, frayed edges here and there, and a place along one corner that will need a bit of attention while you mount it, but it is in surprisingly good condition for a map of its age. And did I say it is beautiful?

side A

side B

Note this map is printed on both front and back, so you will have to choose which side to display.

To bid on this prize or any of the others, go to the Menu for Hope 5 Firstgiving website and click to bid! Make sure to put the prize no. EU19 next to your bid(s) and use a valid email address, so they can contact you when you win!