Thank you very much for your encouraging messages!

Since we started the disaster relief activities, we have been receiving many encouraging messages along with donations. We greatly appreciate your support and would like to share some of them here. We have the Japanese translation of these message on our Japanese blog so that disaster victims also can read them. 

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Thank you for your message and for letting me know what efforts you are making in helping those in Northern Japan affected by the earthquake and tsunami. I lived in Japan for 7 years, my husband is Japanese and I have still have a lot of friends and family in Japan. While no one I know was affected by the earthquake and tsunami, my heart has been very heavy since hearing the news on Friday. In addition to my donation, I wish that I could do more. But being so far away in the US, I'm not sure what I can do. If there is anything that I can do from here, please let me know.

Thank you for making a difference.

Please be safe.

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I am glad you received the payment, and that all is up and running for you to help those affected.

I would like for these people and all of Japan not to feel alone. I would like them to know my thoughts are with them, like those of the entire world.

Thank you for the amazing job you do. Keep up the good work.

All the best,

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We just found out my sister-in-law and her family in Sendai were safe. I heard from them that they are short of food. But I cannot send anything from here (because of the limited logistics). I heard so many people are struggling in tough conditions in the North. I just know your organization only through the media, but I really appreciate your food assistance to the affected areas.  

Please, all the staff at Second Harvest, take care of yourself both physically and mentally since I can imagine you guys must be dealing with tough situations. 

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In the midst of radiation worries and aftershocks, you responded very qiuckly. Your action must be such encouragement for the people in the affected areas. I pray for your safety. 

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Please just let them know that they are not alone and that the whole entire world is thinking of them and keeping them in our hearts. As terrible as it is right now, brighter days will surely come.

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If you can share a message, please do! I think it is important for the survivors to know that many people in America (and around the world) are thinking of them.
Every day, I think about the survivors in Miyagi prefecture - of their loss and their spirit and strength to rebuild despite everything they have been through. Americans view Japanese as resilient and strong. I feel this way, too. But I still stop and reflect on what is happening there and say a little prayer for them.
Japan has a special place in my heart as my brother married my wonderful sister-in-law who is from Tokyo (her family is all fine). I adore her family and had a memorable trip to Japan to attend my brother and sister-in-law's wedding at Meiji Jingu. I also have friends whom we also visited in Hamamatsu. I hope to return to Japan someday.
Thank you for your humanitarian work.
Best,

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If you could relay my support to the affected people, particularly to those who lost a member of their family or friends  and tell them my hope that they will come back to normal life soon.
Best regards,

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All these messages encouraged and inspired us. We will pass these on to the people in the affected areas. Thank you very much for your support! You all make this relief activity possible. 

First 5 days after the earthquake at Tokyo Office

11th, Friday: At 2:46 p.m. the 2011 Tohoku earthquake hit the Northeastern Japan, followed by a massive tsunami. Some time later the quake reached 2HJ Tokyo Office with the intensity level of 5 on the Japanese scale, while the preparation work for the soup run for the following day was going on at the office. The quake stopped all train services in most greater Tokyo areas. We set up an emergency soup kitchen at the office for "stranded commuters."

Emergency Soup-kitchen at the Office

12th, Saturday: We operated a soup-kitchen at Ueno Park as usual. While fewer volunteers turned up due to the cancellation of train services in Tokyo, the number of homeless people lined up in the soup kitchen remained the same.

Despite that we started hearing that the affected areas had been seriously struck by shortages of food and fuel, we could not deliver or send relief supplies to those in need in the area, because only authorized vehicles were permitted to drive on the highway from Tokyo to the affected area.

Meanwhile, more and more offers of relief supplies were reaching 2HJ Tokyo office from abroad. We asked them for financial donations rather than food donations, because of the bureaucratic procedure for accepting food from abroad.

Global Foodbanking Network, which organizes networking among foodbanks in 20 countries around the world, started their relief efforts for Japan.

13th, Sunday: As Charles McJilton, 2HJ executive director, and staff members were allowed to visit the affected area with a CNN crew, 2HJ could get an authorization to drive an emergency vehicle to the affected area. We were rushed to load a 2-ton truck with fuel, such as gas cylinder and light oil, and our drivers were headed to Sendai. We could not have got light oil without the benevolence from the nearby petrol station.

In Sendai we distributed relief supplies in a close collaboration with Food Bank Tohoku AGA-IN, one of 2HJ's partners.

14th, Monday: More and more relief supplies were sent to 2HJ Tokyo office from individuals and companies. Some company sent us as many foods as to make a truck full of them. Some individuals in Tokyo, who must have struggled to get enough basic necessities themselves, donated a box of household goods.

A lot of volunteers were sorting out those precious relief supplies, some of which were sent us with messages attached to them. One of the messages said, "Please send quickly!"

At night, following our first truck headed to Sendai the previous day, our 1.5-ton freezer/refrigerator vehicle, loaded with foods, blankets, and other relief supplies, departed from the office to Sendai.

The message says "please bring these to the affected people!"

Volunteers sorting out supplies

A 4-ton truck full of relief supplies

15th, Tuesday: The freezer/refrigerator vehicle arrived at Sendai. We heard that evacuation centers would not start the distribution of relief supplies until they got enough to distribute to each evacuee sheltered in the center, so we looked for information about relatively small and isolated evacuation centers.

Our staff member sent to Sendai set up "2HJ Emergency Field Office" there with Food Bank Tohoku AGA-IN. It aims to gather information in order to distribute what is needed most to who needs it most.

After the 15th our trucks carry relief supplies to Sendai every day. In addition to Sendai, they are going to Ibaraki on 18th, and to Fukushima on 23rd.

Thank you very much for your help!!

When the earthquake hit Northeast Japan, Second Harvest Japan quickly responded and, since then, has been delivering food and supplies to the affected areas. This has been possible because thousands of people offered their donations to us. Both monetary donors and food and supply donors sent us heart-warming messages. We would like to share some with you here.

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Thank you for your hard work. My daughter told me about your organization and we decided to send donations and medicines. We got portable gas canisters. We will have my daughter bring them to your office. I think people need those items.

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We will never abandon you and are praying hard every day not just for today or tomorrow, but until you can stand and rebuild once again. I am sorry if some people have left Japan in light of the disaster but many of us are coming in to help. Be strong and continue the amazing courage that you have shown to everyone around the world.

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You guys delivered so many food and items to the Northeast! I’m happy about that. But I also heard that food deliveries are not coming to Minami Souma, Fukushima, because people worried about the radiation there. Please think about sending items to Souma.

> We delivered food and supplies to Minami Souma on Mar 23. We heard the logistics are getting better there and resources are coming to the city.

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Thank you for your work! I sent you money the other day. Please use it for the disaster relief. All the Second Harvest staff, please take care and be safe!

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I am happy that I could participate in your work with donations. I live in Tokyo. So, please let me know if you need any volunteers. We still have aftershocks. Please take care of yourself and be safe.

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Please know that all the people who have been affected by these past horrendous events will not be forgotten, even here on the tiny island of Kauai.

We send our hopes and prayers across the water to all the people affected by this disaster. 

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We pray that your disaster relief activity will be successful. Thank you!! 

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We are very grateful that many people sent us heart-warming messages. Second Harvest Japan will deliver your generosity to the people in the affected areas. Thank you very much for your help!!

Mar 23 (Wednesday): From Sendai

Today, we delivered food to isolated welfare agencies and hospitals after checking on the evacuation centers. Since most of the agencies have good supply of food, we delivered supplementary items. Many of them have water and electricity, but not gas. Since they cannot sterilize things by using gas, their need for disposable sanitizers is high.

In terms of food, most of their meals are preserved food and/or retort-pouch items. People are craving for fresh groceries. Many are worried about shortage of good vitamins. We are trying to provide healthy items.

Today’s deliveries

Delivery Areas: Ishinomaki city, Tagajou city, Higashi-Matsushima city, Shiogama city, and Sendai city.

No. of Delivered Agencies: 18 (7 elementary schools, 3 hospitals, and 8 welfare agencies)

We delivered food, sanitation goods, tea, and underwear.

Thank you very much for your support!!

March 22 (Tuesday): From Sendai

Here is the summary of our disaster relief activities in the affected areas.

Second Harvest Japan (2HJ) is working together with the local nonprofits in Sendai, Foodbank Tohoku Again and One Family Sendai, to provide support to those in need. 

* Ogatsu, Ishinomaki City

We visited the area to check the conditions since no internet/telephone is working.

The whole town is devastated. All facilities and buildings were swept by the tsunami.

Approx. 550 locals have evacuated to the elementary school on a hill.

Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and military forces from the United States, Turkey and Sri Lanka are already working in the area, so we decided our immediate support is not needed.

* Ayukawa-Hama, Ishinomaki City

Most of the area is devastated.

Supplies are being delivered to the evacuation center by Japan’s Self-Defense Forces.

Several dozens of houses remain standing after the tsunami, where the chief fisherman is distributing supplies on behalf of all the residents.

There are many of such places where neighbors get together and run it as a private evacuation shelter.

We have given priority to such places for our visit, because they are likely to receive less supplies and other support from government and thus in need.

* Hospitals

Requested by the prefectural government, we visited isolated hospitals and provided support to meet their needs.

There are many staff members continuously working day and night after the earthquake, and they look tired.

They cannot afford to have someone wait in line at supermarkets, so it is very hard to keep going with what they have.

We provided them with supplies such as rice-balls and sanitation goods.

Delivered Area: Ishinomaki City, Higashi-Matsushima City, Tagajo City (and other)

No. of Delivered Agencies:

Evacuation center at elementary & junior-high school: 8
Hospital: 4
Nursing home: 4
Other: 2

16 Agencies in Total

Delivered Items: Cookers for soup kitchen, sanitation goods, nursing goods, vegetables, rice balls and other donated items.

We sincerely give our gratitude to you all for your support.

March 20 (Sunday): From Sendai - Ishinomaki City

We heard from President Nakamura of Food Bank Tohoku AGAIN. His home is in Ishinomaki City, and he told us about the delay in recovery in the city. So we made a hasty trip to Nishinomaki City with two vans.

Nishinomaki City is the second largest city in the prefecture.

It was hit by the tsunami along the coast and was devastated.

Even right now, there are 39,000 people evacuated.

The radio broadcast we’ve been listening to on the way to Ishinomaki has been telling us about the welfare of the people of the city.

During the morning, we visited the area around Kitawamigawa River.

Right after the earthquake, the seawater pushed the river against its flow. Then the tsunami came.

The roads cracked and fell apart, and the paddy fields and the houses around the area were completely submerged.

Arriving at an elementary school that serves as an evacuation shelter. (There are 241 people there.)

The lifeline of water, electricity gas has stopped completely.

The evacuees brought stockpiled rice from the neighborhood farmhouse. They were going to use the spring water from the mountain behind the school. However, they were concerned that the rain this weekend may have contaminated the water with radiation.

They have not eaten decent meals, so they were excited to receive curry in pouches and snacks. Because there are many elderly people, adult diapers and bladder control pads were also well received.

While there are no expectations that schools will resume, some volunteers have opened a “terako” (temple school). There is a feeling for never giving up.

In the afternoon, we moved to the area around the Ishinomaki Port to visit evacuation centers at two elementary schools and a junior high school.

When we arrived there, all the teachers and adults helped bring in the supplies.

This area has recovered electricity and water about two to three days ago. However, the last elementary school we visited received the most damage by the tsunami, and the electricity and water lines were completely down.

We received the message, “There are not enough supplies,” so we hurried there.

The school playground was piled up with mud.

Even the first floor classrooms were filled with mud.

People who try to clean have multiple shelters to take care of, and they seemed very tired.

Almost all of them have not had proper meals, so I’d like them to have something warm to eat.

I’ll visit them again tomorrow after preparing meals.

The destruction left by the tsunami could be seen everywhere.

On the way back, I heard on the news that an 80-year old woman and her 16-year old grandson were found alive under rubbles after nine days.

I felt happy hearing that they were alive under all those rubble.

During the meeting at night, we decided that we would emphasize Ishinomaki City for support.

Tomorrow (March 21), we will head out to help Ishinomaki City’s shelters and nursing homes with three trucks – a truck from another organization that arrived today, 2HJ’s truck, and AGAIN’s truck.

* Today’s delivery

Delivery locations

Ishinomaki City, Natori City, Iwanuma City, within Sendai City

Number of locations providing food and supplies: 18


Items delivered

Pouch curry, candy, sanitary items, personal gifts, rice balls

Everyone, thank you for your warm support!

Report from the 2HJ Asakusabashi Office in Tokyo on Mar 19

More and More Emergency Supplies from around the Globe

Thanks to your support, 778 packages of emergency supplies from individuals, interested groups, and companies have arrived at our Tokyo office as of the 20th, 9 days after the 3/11 earthquake.

Some came from foreign countries, including as far as Switzerland, and others were brought in directly to the office by individuals.

Besides these packages, our primary food donor companies also have donated emergency supplies to us.

The total of those packages and donations so far amounts to four 4-ton-trucks.

Our volunteers sort out donations and put a content-description note on every box.

Some 40 volunteers help us with the emergency task everyday.

Both Japanese and foreign volunteers are working together.

Some emergency supplies are sent with a message card.

A message from a boy in Kanagawa saying "Hang tough."

We deliver the emergency supplies as well as donors' thoughts to the affected areas every day.

We sincerely give our gratitude to you all for your support.

March 19 (Saturday): Today’s supplying of food in Sendai

After the earthquake, Foodbank Tohoku AGAIN is feeding people in its vicinity twice a day in front of its office.

Today, 1,360 onigiri were made.

Seventy-three people came to the feeding during noon, and 43 came in the evening.

Fewer and fewer people are coming everyday.

Within the city, distribution is recovering. But the long lines at supermarkets and convenience stores make it quite hard to get items.

It’s really tough when it snows.

Each person is limited to 10 items. You may not be able to buy something even if you have money.

March 19 (Saturday): From Sendai

The weather has been nice and warm since morning.

Our team, broken into three smaller groups, sorted out relief supplies from Tokyo by item.

These are mostly sanitation goods received from individual donors. There is currently high demand for sanitation goods.

We visited agencies where the local nonprofit, Foodbank Tohoku AGAIN, provides support on regular basis, in order to deliver supplies and check the current conditions.

We drove 5 trucks with relief supplies down to Sendai City, Natori City, Iwanuma City, Higashi-Matsushima City and Kami-gun, and delivered food and other necessities to 16 agencies, including evacuation centers, orphanages, facilities for the elderly & disabled, hotels, and other cooperative nonprofits.

Although electricity is back, running water and gas supply is still cut off in many of the affected areas. Local people are unable to take a bath since the earthquake, and sanitation infrastructure like toilet has not been fully put in place.

Therefore, there is increasing demand of wet wipes.

Now hot meals can be prepared in the facilities equipped with IH cooker, but where those without it, people are still boiling water by gas which is running out shortly.

Obviously, it is not clear when new propane tanks or gas cylinders will be delivered.

Relief supplies are coming from local government and other agencies as well, but it is not sufficient.

The number one problem here is the shortage of gasoline. There are several kilometers of waiting line of cars at every gas station in the city.

At agencies, 2 meals are provided a day for adults and 3 meals for children in orphanages.

Just one rice-ball, Japanese pickles and tea for a meal, or even steamed potato or fried noodles without any fixings in attempt to save foods.

There is a shortage of protein.

We heard lots of voice hoping for canned foods like tuna and meats.

Due to the devastated distribution, orphanages are running out diapers and powder milks. Staff of an orphanage says they would like to give snacks and juice to children while they understand it is not the time they can hope for the best.

Needed in the elderly facilities are adult diapers and wet wipes.

Their stocks of consumable items such as toilet papers are for 2 to 3 days.

Now supplies are starting to come to agencies, but there is obvious difference between what is delivered and what is not.

Most wanted is hot meal.

We prepare rice balls in another place, so it’s already cold when we serve them.

There is no way we can provide something hot.

Not only because of the continuous cold weather, hot meals are wanted for hearts.

We were trying to find a way to store relief supplies delivered from Tokyo and distribute them adequately.

Thanks to a good coincidence, it turned out Jodo-shu (Jodo Buddhism) temple in Sendai city could offer a place for storage.

Under the current situations in the affected areas where needs are extremely fluid, we can deliver required items when necessary by having stocks of supplies.

Today’s Delivery

Delivered Area: Natori City, Iwanuma City, Higashi-Matsushima City, Kami-gun, Sendai City

No. of Delivered Agencies: 32

Delivered Items: Pouch-packed curries, sanitation goods, rice, rice balls and other necessities from individual supporters

We greatly appreciate you all for your warming support.