Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Your Conscience on March 22, 2011 at 2:30pm

I understand your reasoning, but I recommend just donating money and helping spread the word so that others can donate as well. Customs is really strict right now, so it's hard to get care packages into the country. The reason Red Cross is asking for money instead of supplies is because they already have reputable sources that they depend on to get the jobs they need done. What you're trying to do is a sweet gesture, but I think they could get better use out of whatever money people would be spening on care packages because they can get more with the same amount of money that we would in buying brand new stuff... Just something to think about. But if you're really set on sending care packages, I hope you find the recources you need.

Permalink Reply by rellina on March 23, 2011 at 2:15am

maybe you can ask mike or send it to un ,you seem like a kind person thanks for your care

Permalink Reply by Anya Redgewell on March 23, 2011 at 6:03am

I know there are necessary for life and sanitation items needed, and that is what the aid organizations do.  I'm grateful for what they do and I donate alot to a mutitude of organizations, both financially and with my time.  Relief organizations are collecting soap, socks, diapers and so on, I entirely agree with what they are doing, but I also know from the lessons my own children have taught me (the most valuable lessons I've ever learned) that with all the resilience a child has, stress has a much deeper negative impact on young children than it does on adults, and the simple fact that they cannot control any of it, and they see the mental trauma occuring with the people they love, look up to and depend on, they need relief from that, however minimal.  Children need to be allowed time to be children.  I'm going to contact Global Giving, Save the Children (Children's Emergency Fund) and author Jason Kelly's organization Socks for Japan today to see if they have any thoughts on where to go with this.  I know there has to be some organization with more resources or knowledge on how to do this.  I'm also going to talk to my kids schools to see if maybe the ASB would be interested in helping organize kids assembling the packages along with letters from the kids here, who knows, maybe they will all make some new friends.  I am glad to see that Save the Children is organizing play areas in the shelters now so the kids can have some stress free time together.  We have no tomorrow if we don't nuture children today.  I'll update again as soon as I've gotten a bit of progress made.

Permalink Reply by Anya Redgewell on March 24, 2011 at 5:35am

UPDATE:  Author Jason Kelly, the man behind the Socks for Japan drive has offered to serve as reception and distribution for the care packages if the blankets are taken out of the packages and replaced with new socks and candy for the kids due to size limitations.  Done.  Care packages for the children are officially a go!  Super happy, I've got a fair amount of staff from the transportation department at the Oceanside Unified School District on board to help, my husband will be talking to the ASB director at my children's school today about it, my daughter is in go mode on social networks with her friends and alot of my co-workers at the grocery store I work for are asking to help, this is gonna happen!  I'll have to cover the shipping costs myself, but I'm fine with that, I didn't take a vacation this year, so my vacation payout will have a much better use that a frivolous trip :)  If anyone is interested in helping please drop me a line!

Permalink Reply by Your Conscience on March 24, 2011 at 10:50am

I'm glad to see that your determination helped you find the resources you needed to get this done. Hopefully shipping won't cost too much since nice soft blankets aren't usually that heavy... If you have an address to send the packages to Jason, please let me know what it is so that I can try to help as well.  =)

Permalink Reply by Anya Redgewell on March 25, 2011 at 5:51am

He's asked that, due to size limitations we leave the blankets out and replace them with smaller items being a new pair of children's socks and some bits of candy. He has a few other guidelines so that it is easier for his staff to sort through things that come in.


http://jasonkelly.com/helpjapan/#guidelines

This website lays out the guidelines he has for packaging donations as well as the address to send them to, he's making an exception to the socks only policy for this project. I'm looking for other potential locations to send items to as well now as it seems that this has the potential to be much larger than I'd originally imagined. The transportation department at the Oceanside school district has grown to the district CSEA president requesting a flier to distribute to the staff and teachers at all of the district schools, which I delivered to him this morning. My sister is also a social sciences professor at Pasadena City College and she's definitely offer all of her students extra credit for participating, as well as having had me submit a letter for her to give to the Dean of Students offering community service hours in exchange for participation. If the dean approves the project we may end up with enough packages to overwhelm Jason's staff. I'm thinking I might make some calls to Camp Pendelton and talk to some of the Marines in the community to see if they can put me in touch with some organizations in Japan. Thank you for your support!

Permalink Reply by Your Conscience on March 25, 2011 at 10:24am

Oceanside? Pasadena? CAMP PENDLETON?! Holy Goodness, I just checked your profile, and you're in Hemet... I live in Murrieta. Maybe we could meet up sometime and talk fundraisers...if you'd be interested in that kind of thing. I've tried to plan some stuff in the past, but couldn't find enough people to help me make it happen. I've decided this year that I'm going to make it happen, one way or the other. I figure that even if I have to do it on my own, it's better than not doing it at all. If that sounds like something you might want to participate in, please let me know. If not, that's cool too. At any rate, thank you for this link and information on how to help with the project you're working on.  =)

Permalink Reply by Angel LP on April 7, 2011 at 1:46pm

Plenty of room at my house! Why keep them all there??? Oh that's right we would have to spend 40,000.00 to adopt! That is selling children! I am workin hard at Socialvibe to earn points so companies donate for you, if you have no money, but you have time!!!!

Permalink Reply by Angel LP on April 7, 2011 at 1:49pm

Music for Relief will have answers for you. They have resources...Also about every other Church is donating...non profit orgs. too...hope that helps!

Permalink Reply by Ajay s Garg on April 10, 2011 at 2:16pm

I am a database bi developer , a very very simple guy, but very giving , humble and honest.The reason i joined this group is to help the people of japan , wish to reach out to the people of japan, i donated about half my wages to the cause but the magnitude of the problem is so huge i cant do it alone.Mike if u can help me ,I am in touch with the congressman there and the money is not reaching sendai as the banks are closed.what should i say..i dont know music but what i do know is that musicians have a good heart and can raise lots of money money that can mean the difference between life and death to a lot of people in a lot of places so GOD HELP ME CONNECT THE DOTS AND MAKE ADIFFERENCE.

Permalink Reply by Nick Otmazgin on April 11, 2011 at 8:09am

It's Truly Sad - God bless , i wish i could HELP.