A Flower

Rachel Fabi over at Just Gridding has been doing an amazing job raising funds for abortion access in the US. You might remember that I contributed a puzzle a while back as part of a puzzle pack for a fundraiser for the Baltimore Abortion Fund. Well, with everything that’s been going on in Texas (just the first of many attempts to claw back abortion rights in the US with the Supreme Court as it is…), a bunch of constructors have offered “stretch goal” puzzles to help encourage more contributions — and now, with 300 people giving, my stretch goal puzzle has finally been released. It’s the largest grid I’ve done to date, and I hope you all enjoy it.

There are still more exciting “stretch goal” puzzles left to unlock, and still a terrible need for fundraising, so if you haven’t yet (or maybe even if you have), please give today. (And let Rachel know!)

BAF!

The fabulous Rachel Fabi asked if I’d be willing to contribute a puzzle to a fundraiser for the Baltimore Abortion Fund, and how could I say no? Like most people, I am frustrated and outraged by the lack of equitable, accessible healthcare in the US.* While we fight for more systemic solutions, we need to take care of people now. So if you can, please donate to this campaign — and, as thanks, you will receive a dozen or so thematically appropriate puzzles from some all-star constructors! And also me.

But here, let’s let Rachel explain more:

We are thrilled to release our crossword pack, "These Puzzles Fund Abortion," in support of the Baltimore Abortion Fund (BAF), an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to people who live in or travel to Maryland for abortion care. BAF is part of the National Network of Abortion Funds, which consists of 70+ independently operated funds across the country. Abortion funds like BAF work to ensure that people have access to the resources necessary to make the decisions that are best for them and their family by removing financial barriers that may otherwise prevent them from accessing abortion care.  

This puzzle pack was made by a group of crossword constructors who are dedicated to promoting reproductive justice: Chris Piuma (midi-puzzle); Claire Rimkus; Matthew Stock; Rebecca Goldstein; Robyn Weintraub; Erica Wojcik; Natan Last; Nate Cardin; Brooke Husic; Finn Vigeland; Martha Kimes; Juliana Tringali Golden; Erik Agard; and Rachel Fabi.

Note: the puzzle pack is not yet available, but all donations to BAF made through this page before April 9, 2021 will pre-register you to receive the puzzles in the first wave of the release!

And so here’s my puzzle from the collection, as a little sampler. If you enjoy it, please give what you can!

* While Canada, where I live now, has significantly more equitable and accessible healthcare, it could also be a heck of a lot better. But that’s a story for another day.