Japan relief aid - you can give hope today

[Mary Kay]

Over 10,000 people are missing in Japan following the Tsunami and
Earthquake of March 11th. Do you want to help respond to the natural
disaster that has devastated Japan?

Here are 10 ways you can help organizations providing relief. All are
accepting online donations:

Here is a list of 10 organizations and causes working to bring relief
to Japan. Give to one, give to all.
 Do what you can, hug a friend,
donate a billion - whatever it is you decide to do, it will help those
in need, and it will help you express the natural emotions of sadness
and sympathy many feel for Japan as a nation, through a constructive,
positive response.

1) Searching For Loved Ones
For any who have loved ones abroad, Google has stepped up to help.
Along with a tsunami alert posted on its front page, Google has
launched the Person Finder: 2011 Japan Earthquake to help connect
people that may have been displaced due to the disaster. Google has
also launched a crisis response page filled with local resources and
emergency information.
Inquiries concerning U.S. citizens living or
traveling in Japan should be referred to the U.S. Department of State,
Office of Overseas Citizens Services at 1-888-407-4747 or 202
647-5225.

2) The American Red Cross
The Red Cross has already launched efforts in Japan. Visit
Redcross.org or text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 from your phone.
On those rare occasions when donations exceed American Red Cross
expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare
for and serve victims of other disasters.

3) Save The Children
Save the Children has also responded. 
The organization is currently
organizing efforts and donations to its Children’s Emergency Fund will
support outreach.

4) International Medical Corps
To donate or learn about other ways you can contribute to its medical
response, visit Internationalmedicalcorps.org. Also, text MED to 80888
from any mobile phone to give $10.

5) GlobalGiving.org
The Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund was launched at
GlobalGiving.org to garner funds that will be given to a variety of
relief organizations helping victims of the earthquake. It has already
raised over $100,000, particularly from concerned Twitter users around
the world.

6) Salvation Army
Salvation Army personnel are organizing efforts in Tokyo and will soon
send a team to help the severely damaged city of Sendai, Japan. 
To
contribute to earthquake relief, text ‘JAPAN’ or ‘QUAKE’ to 80888 to
make a $10 donation or visit SalvationArmyUSA.org designate gift for
“Japan Earthquake/Tsunami”
.
By phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY - designate gift
for “Japan Earthquake/Tsunami”

Or by mail: send your check marked
“Japan Earthquake/Tsunami” to The Salvation Army World Service Office,
International Relief Fund, PO Box 630728, Baltimore, MD 21263-0728
At
this time, The Salvation Army is not accepting in-kind donations from
the general public disaster relief operations in Japan as it is
extremely difficult and expensive to ship in-kind donations overseas
from the United States to Japan. The best way for U.S. donors to help
Japanese disaster survivors is to make a cash donation.

7) Doctors Without Borders
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is sending two
three-person teams to the Iwate and Miyagi prefectures in Japan. 
To
learn more about the organization’s efforts or make a donation, visit
Doctorswithoutborders.org.

8) Operation USA
Along with an appeal for monetary donations, Operation USA has also
announced efforts to collect bulk corporate donations of health care
supplies. If you are interested in donating bulk medical items, visit
OpUSA.org.

9) PayPal
Judy Chang, head of PayPal’s nonprofit group, announced that
transactional fees incurred by money transfers to US 501(c)(3)
organizations (or charities registered with the Canada Revenue Agency)
between March 11 and April 10 will aid relief efforts in Japan.

10) AmeriCares, ShelterBox and MercyCorps
Other relief organizations are also sending representatives to
disaster sites, including AmeriCares and Shelterbox.
MercyCorps is
gathering donations for its overseas partner, Peace Winds Japan, which
currently has personnel on the ground distributing emergency relief in
Japan.

Rotary International Shelter Box
https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/ShelterBoxUSAInc/OnlineGiving.html

Boxes contain some of the following:
ShelterBox is the premier international aid organization that provides
shelter and life-saving equipment. We instantly respond to earthquake,
volcano, flood, hurricane, cyclone, tsunami or conflict and have
helped over 140 disasters in more than 70 countries. Each box
supplies an extended family of up to 10 people with a tent and
lifesaving equipment to use while they are displaced or homeless. The
contents are tailored depending on the nature and location of the
disaster, with great care taken sourcing every item to ensure it is
robust enough to be of lasting value.
http://shelterboxusa.org/about.php?page=9

The donation required to sponsor a whole ShelterBox is $1,000 (US).
Smaller donations are also gratefully accepted. All donors will
receive a tax-deductible receipt and later notification of the box
number(s) associated with their contribution.
Donations for boxes are used to fund the purchase of box items,
assembly, warehousing and subsequent delivery to disaster survivors.

[Mary Kay]

[Mary Anne Curtiss]

As we reach out to Japan, I also would like to put in a word for the people
of Libya. Like the people of Egypt, where I have close contacts, they
are/were hoping to free themselves from a police state. The results if they
are succesfull will be difficult at best. The consequences if they fail will
be horrifying and lasting. Pray for them. Call your elected officials, or
write to an oil company CEO. Thanks, Mary Anne Curtiss

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