Japan Earthquake: How to help, personal update

UPDATE, March 30: I’m now in Japan! My tweeting [1] has slowed down quite a bit, mainly because I am busy ^_^ - but also because the real news has pretty much slowed down. Please check out my personal site [2] for significant behind-the-news type updates that aren’t food-related. By the way, life here in Yokohama (which is right near Tokyo, for the geographically challenged) is pretty much close to normal. Kids playing outside in the sun, mom’s chatting, people going to work as usual, etc. I guess there is a bit of tension in the air, and lights tend to be dimmed at night, but that’s about it. The biggest problem people are griping about right now is the high pollen count. Sorry to disappoint some people who were expecting far worse!

As I said before, my family and friends are all ok, (including my mom, who I know has quite a lot of fans via this site) though my stepfather hasn’t been able to reach one of his brothers in Aomori as of yesterday update: all family member have been contacted and are safe.

I’ve gotten emails and so on asking specific questions about missing individuals and other thing. I am only a private individual, and I’m pretty much overwhelmed at the moment. I have no power to help you officially. Please use official sources to get information/assistance. For online information, the Google Crisis Response [3] page is a good place to start. I also periodically post pertinent links on the abovementioned Twitter [1] stream.

Since many people have asked, I’m putting a list of places to donate. If you have specific questions about donating to a particular organization, please consult their website. I’ll update this list as needed. To send in listings for other places to donate, (new request) please post it as a comment to this article, so it will be at least accessible to everyone before I have time to update the page.

Money donations are the best way you can help from overseas. At the moment roads are very congested to hard hit areas because of partial closures, etc. Don’t try to send goods; they may not even get to victims. Money can always be used to purchase needed items.

Finally, for my fellow Americans (and yes, I am a U.S. citizen), just in case you’re hesitant for whatever reason about lending your support, please see this report, after Hurricane Katrina. Japanese prove truly “A Friend In Need” [4]. I believe this is at least partly why the U.S. Military operation name for the disaster assistance is named Operation Tomadachi. Tomodachi means Friend in Japanese.

Funds set up for the Japan Earthquake

UPDATE I’m putting any time sensitive fundraising events up at top here.

Note the international Red Cross organizations (see below) have set up earmarked funds for Japan.

Bakesale For Japan

A U.S. nationwide-bakesale taking place on April 2nd. See Bakesale For Japan [5].

Handmade For Japan auction

Still ongoing auctions to help the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. Organized by Japanese-American Japanese-American ceramic artist Ayumi Horie [6]. She, Ai Kanazawa Cheung, and Kathryn Pombriant Manzella have mobilized to solicit, promote, and auction handmade pieces of art generously donated by talented artists throughout North America and Japan. Facebook page [7].

Bento4Japan

My fellow bento bloggers have set up a fundraising site, See Bento4Japan [8].

Artists Help Japan

Artists Help Japan is a charity movement initiated by Dice Tsutsumi, an art director at Pixar Animation Studios. It gathers together the efforts of artists communities around the world to help raise money for Japan disaster relief. Artists Help Japan [9].

Japan Society in New York and UK

The Japan Society of New York has set up a Japan Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund. Details here [10]. The Japan Society is also doing benefit concerts and more. Check on their web site.

The Japan Society of the UK has also set up a Japan Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund. Details here [11].

Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California

The JCCCNC has also set up an Earthquake Relief Fund. Details here [12].

Lady Gaga

You can order a We Pray For Japan wristband [13] via Lady Gaga’s official site. You can add money to the $5 price to donate if you wish.

Cranes For Japan

Cranes For Japan [14] is an initiative to gather 100,000 paper cranes. For every crane the Bezos Family Foundation will donate $2 towards relief efforts.

Font Aid V: Made in Japan

Wow, this is a very creative way to raise funds. The Society of Typographers [15] is calling for type designers everywhere to contribute a glyph to a special typeset that will be sold to raise funds to be sent directly to organizations in Japan. Info here [15].

Quakebook

A collaborative literary and photographic book, proceeds to go to Japan disaster relief. Quakebook site [16].

Write for Tohoku

Another collaborative literary effort, proceeds going to Japan disaster relief. Write for Tohoku site [17].

Songs for Japan on iTunes

Songs for Japan is an album of songs donated by several artists. Included John Lennon’s Imagine, donated by his widow Yoko Ono. iTunes link [18] (See how to donate to the Red Cross via the iTunes store too, below.)

Second Harvest Japan

If you live outside of Japan, you can donate money to support Second Harvest’s efforts to provide food and supplies for disaster victims and more. Second Harvest Japan [19]. (See below if you live in Japan.)

Other Japan related organizations

Via the American Express donation page listed below, I found this list of Japan related organizations [20]. Even if you don’t have an Amex card, you may find it useful to find a local organization.

International organizations

Note that many international organizations are now earmarking funds specifically for Japan’s disaster.

Salvation Army

Both my grandparents on my father’s side were Salvation Army officers. I have great faith in this organization.

• Salvation Army International [21]
• Salvation Army USA [22]

Doctors Without Borders/Les Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

MSF is another great organization. They’ve already started work in Japan.

• Worldwide website [23]

Red Cross Red Crescent

The Japan Red Cross is taking donations by bank transfer (in Japan) or credit card (in Japan and from overseas) but their site is understandably swamped. Try this link [24].

Otherwise, all international Red Cross offices are accepting donations earmarked for Japan.

• International Red Cross [25]
• American Red Cross [26]
• British Red Cross [27]

Other ways to donate - via companies etc.

• In the U.S., you can text REDCROSS to 90999 with your cellphone to donate $10 to the American Red Cross.
• Many U.S. websites have set up ways in which you can donate easily to the Red Cross, such as:
  • Amazon.com [28]
  • Apple iTunes [29] (note: opens iTunes). The Mac App store also has a donate button.
  • Google [3]
  • If you are on Tumblr, there’s a handy Donate link on your Dashboard [30] (bottom right)
  • In the UK, Japan Centre has set up a system where you can buy donation coupons in 1 pound increments. Link here [31] Donations will go to the Red Cross via the Japanese Embassy.
  • Hilton will match donations up to $250,000 to the International Red Cross/Red Crescent of members donating their Hilton HHonors points. Call 1-800-HHONORS (1-800-446-6677). Hilton is also matching all employee donations.
  • American Express also offers ways to donate to card members, including donation of Membership Miles points. Amex link [32]
  • SXSW conference [33]
  • You can donate to support the International Medical Corps’ relief efforts in disaster areas everywhere by buying a Groupon coupon [34].
  • You can donate via Paypal [35] to one of four charities.

See also

• Yahoo! News page on organizations to donate to [36].
• There’s a list of international donation sites at the bottom of this page [37], which mostly lists places to donate in Japan.

Donating in Japan

If you live in Japan, you can donate food and supplies to Second Harvest Japan. Be sure to read their list! Second Harvest Japan [19].

Also contact your local city/town government offices or look on their web sites - many if not most communities around Japan are now set up to accept donations of goods or volunteers, besides money.

If you’re in Japan as a visitor, the easiest way to donate is to put cash in the donation boxes at all konbini (convenience store) cash registers, including 7-11, Lawsons, FamilyMart and am/pm. If you’re in an unaffected area, also check if government offices or local businesses have donation boxes.

Otherwise most if not all Japanese donation methods require a Japanese bank account or cellphone. The page I linked above [37] has many links to donation sites in Japan.