Japan was hit by a massive earthquake. As of 3/20, a week after the earthquake/tsunami, nearly 20,000 people have died or are missing. There are thousands still stranded.
My fellow Japanese friends living abroad and I have been very, very sad about the disaster, and not being able to do much at all. It’s just heartbreaking to watch and read the news. There was a story of bodies found – a grandmother and a 3 year old boy hugging each other tight – as the mother looked for them. There was a story of a husband looking for a wife. They were running away from the tsunami, and when he looked back, she was gone.
It’s hard to imagine multiplying their sorrow by 10,000 and 20,000.
Many of my friends have asked what organization they can donate to. Thank you so much for trying to help. Every little bit helps. Thank you. For those who have considered donation but haven’t had a chance yet, here are some suggestions. Thank you so much.
- Amazon.com has a page where you can use your Amazon account to donate money to the American Red Cross.
- LivingSocial.com will match your donation to the American Red Cross. You donate $5, they get $10. They have donated over 2 million dollars so far.
- Sendai Earthquake Relief is an organization run by Japanese Student Organization at the University of Oregon where I work. They have done a great job of collecting money, as well as organizing a vigil that I attended. They have been talking with the Japanese consulate to make sure that the money goes directly to what is needed right now.
- Here’s an article about other organizations.
“Last night when I was tired out waiting for the train at the station, the homeless people gave me one of their cardboards to prevent the cold… even though we usually ignore them in daily life… So warm.”
“Shops at Tokyo Disneyland handed out sweets and candies to the people trapped inside the Park after the earthquake. Several high school girls wearing flashy clothes and makeup came and took more than they needed. “What the…??” The next minute, I saw them giving out candies to the children in the shelter. It was hard for mothers to move around with small children, and we were so thankful for what they did.”
To read more, please visit http://prayforjapan.jp/message/?lang=en
Thank you.
