How to donate to the relief efforts in Japan

Organizations helping earthquake- and tsunami-ravaged Japan have made it easy for Canadians to donate.

Canadian wireless customers with most major carriers can text ASIA to 30333, to donate $5 to the Canadian Red Cross Japan Earthquake/Asia-Pacific Tsunami fund and there is no charge for the text.

According to the Canadian Red Cross, a total of $3 million has already been donated by Canadians since the catastrophic 8.9 magnitude earthquake Friday.

Those wanting to help can donate online at redcross.ca or call 1-800-418-1111.

James Astleford, donor-relations director for ADRA Canada, a humanitarian agency established by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, said his organization has representatives in Japan working with stranded residents.

The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee has set up a Japan donation website as well and says it is working with partners on the ground to determine what role its volunteers can play.

Donations to CRWRC can also be made by calling 1-800-730-3490.

Médicins Sans Frontières says two teams of three people are trying to reach the worst-hit areas in Japan’s Iwate and Miyagi prefectures.

“The MSF teams, composed of medical and logistics personnel, will try to reach the area by helicopter,” said spokeswoman Naomi Sutorius-Lavoie in an email Friday. “Once there, the two teams will liaise with local emergency-response authorities to assess medical needs. Another 25 MSF medical and logistical staff in Japan are on standby to respond once the situation has been assessed.”

UNICEF says it has already positioned supplies and personnel in countries throughout the Pacific region.

Plan International Canada had an emergency-response team on standby in Indonesia, where it has a warehouse stocked with 5,000 family kits available for immediate distribution.

World Vision Canada has also set up a webpage to solicit donations to provide disaster relief for victims of the earthquake.

UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, a group that supports IsraAid, an Israel-based humanitarian organization sending teams of rescue personnel, emergency medical officers and water pollution purification specialists to Japan, is also accepting donations here.

CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Quebec and Save the Children Canada have formed a group called The Humanitarian Coalition and began accepting donations Saturday.

The Salvation Army announced it was allocating $75,000 to the earthquake relief effort in Japan and is accepting donations online here.

Canadians can also donate online through International Development and Relief Foundation or by calling 1-866-497-IDRF (1-866-497-4373).

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada says “the best way for Canadians to help is to donate money — not clothing or food.”


article published On Tue Mar 15 2011 in the Toronto Star