I know that all of you around the world join us in expressing our profound sadness for what is happening in Japan. If you are following the news, you know that the initial earthquake and tsunami are just the beginning of the story. The aftershocks are continuing even as I write this, and we don't even know the extent of the damage, or the total loss of life. Like Haiti, they will be rebuilding and recovering in the hard hit areas, for a decade or more.
We are all asking the question – what can we do to help? I know you are all thinking the same thing, so let me share a perspective on what we can do to help now.
First of all, I am sure it is obvious that what the survivors need now is not quilts, but disaster aid. We all need to donate as much money as we can, to trusted relief agencies who will make sure the money goes *immediately* and *DIRECTLY* to those in need.
Relief efforts are going to be long term, and at times like this fraudulent disaster relief donation websites spring up, so make sure you give money through trusted organizations.
Here are some links for you to investigate this weekend:
Organizations providing relief resources in Japan
Doctors Without Borders
SOS Children's Villages
Oxfam Japan
International Medical Corps
CNN: Japan earthquake: How you can help
As for the requests to donate quilts for survivors, we don't want to start up a project like this until we can guarantee that we have a shipper, and even more importantly, a trusted source on the other side who can guarantee that the quilts will be handed directly to those in need. I cannot possibly stress too much the importance of this point! I am working with Kathy Price at Mission of Love to see what we can do together, but it is too early for me to make a commitment until we have a guaranteed distributor on the other end. Kathy and I have both seen supplies piled up and moldering in warehouses, not being distributed to those in need, and that situation is practically criminal!
For disaster relief on the other side of the world, such as New Zealand and Japan, the best thing to do initially is to donate funds for relief such as food, shelter, medical supplies, water, etc. It is so expensive to ship quilts there, so it is best to put that money towards relief funds for now.
Mission of Love worked with us on Haiti relief, and they literally were the first to land and deliver disaster supplies in Haiti after their earthquake. In areas like Haiti where they are still desperately trying to survive post-earthquake, in New Zealand as they pick up the pieces from their recent earthquake, in Australia where they are still recovering from their floods and fires, and even for those who have not recovered from Katrina in the US, we know there are always plenty of places for us to give, and help. That is not even mentioning what is going on in Northern Africa right now.
Thanks to all those compassionate hearts who have been moved to ask – "How can I help?" – Lets move carefully and make sure that our efforts truly go to those in need. I'll keep you posted as I learn more, and thank to those of you who have generously offered to donate quilts.
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