THREE Salvation Army teams in Japan are providing vital assistance to people affected by the country's earthquake, the resulting tsunami and ongoing problems at a nuclear power station. The Japanese Government has recognized the Army's work and given its teams permission to enter the disaster area and use access roads that are closed off to the public.
The first of the three teams went to Sendai , where about 1,000 meals were served to evacuees. Hot meals and drinks were prepared in The Salvation Army's mobile emergency canteen and given out at Sendai Corps (Salvation Army church). Handy towels were also distributed.
Another team went to a relief office in the Mito area and unloaded bottles of water, biscuits, blankets, nappies (diapers) and tissue boxes for distribution to evacuees.
The third team headed to an area where people had been evacuated from the vicinity around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station, but snow and shortage of petrol meant they had to divert to other areas to support evacuees.
Offers of support are pouring in from around the world. Two experienced International Emergency Services workers have flown to Tokyo from International Headquarters in London to assist their Japanese colleagues. The BBC reports that volunteers from a British group which failed to obtain clearance to work in the affected areas 'donated their food and medical supplies to The Salvation Army working in the country'.
The Salvation Army's Korea Territory has arranged for the K-Water Corporation to provide 100,000 bottles of water to be sent to Japan – 30,000 bottles by the end of the week, followed by the rest within a short time – and the Korea Disaster Relief Association will be sending 5,000 first-aid kits. Salvationists in Korea are holding a month of prayer for the people of Japan .
In a touching show of solidarity 1,500 young Salvationists in Haiti – who themselves have recent experience of a devastating earthquake – made prayer for Japan a focus of their rally in Fond-des-Nègres on 11-12 March.
At this time, The Salvation Army is not accepting in-kind donations (clothing, household goods, food, etc.) from the general public for disaster relief operations in Japan .
The public can help most right now by making a financial gift that gives us the purchasing power we need to care for disaster survivors. Financial donations can be made by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or by visiting us on the web at www.salvationarmy.usawest.org; or people can mail checks to The Salvation Army World Service Office, International Disaster Relief Fund, PO Box 630728 , Baltimore , MD 21263-0728 .
We are not accepting gifts-in-kind (clothing, household goods, etc.) in response to this international disaster because it’s not practical or cost-effective to accept goods in the US, then sort, pack, and ship then to Japan to be distributed in a disaster zone where roads and infrastructure have been badly damaged.
Gifts of in-kind materials are always needed by your Salvation Army family store to support the work in your local community. If you wish to donate to your local thrift store, please call 1-800-95TRUCK or visit http://www.satruck.com Please keep in mind that acceptance of material goods for "disaster survivors only" is not possible, as the logistics and added expense for transportation of these items is not practical.
