In Other Words sends out SOS.

Portland's In Other Words bookstore, the only remaining nonprofit feminist bookstore in the country, has always operated on financial thin ice. Now that ice is beginning to crack according to Katie Carter, an employee at the bookstore.

Carter sent out an SOS email to volunteers and media last night explaining that the bookstore is facing a financial crisis. As a result of lowered sales due to the recession they have been unable to repay their debts and will have to close their doors if they cannot raised $11,000 by the end of December to repay a short term loan.

They've received $600 in donations since sending the missive. "It speaks to the large community that we are serving. This is a place where people come and find their community," Carter says. "We are very optimistic. I am completely inspired and amazed by the response."

Reaching their $11,000 goal is only the beginning of a long battle to save the non-profit. They still owe $40,000 in longer term loans and are organizing fundraising efforts to keep themselves afloat throughout the coming year. They'll be posting updates on their website in the coming weeks.

Here's the original email:

In Other Words, like so many of our fellow bookstores, has fallen upon incredibly hard financial times. With the decline in our current economy, we have experienced severely decreased revenue. If we are unable to raise $11,000 by the end of December, In Other Words will have to close its doors.

We desperately need your help. We are confident that if everyone who cares about In Other Words makes a contribution, large or small, we will meet our goal. Please give as generously as you can to save the last remaining non-profit, feminist bookstore in the country: the place where so many Portland artists, activists, organizers, readers, writers, political thinkers, musicians and poets find their voice, their power, their community, and their political home.

Our community cannot afford to lose In Other Words, please help us save her!

You can make your tax-deductible donations on the In Other Words secure website, or by stopping into the store (8 NE Killingsworth Ave., 232.6003).

Please forward this widely to your community, we need all the help we can get!

Image courtesy of inotherwords.org.