Saturday, May 28, 2011

Shizugawa HS Supply Deliveries

In addition to the previously mentioned deliveries of school supplies to hard-hit elementary schools in Tagajo and Shiogama, we were also able recently to deliver 900 notebooks and other school supplies to Shizugawa High School in the town of Minamisanriku, Miyagi.  Along with the stationary, we also delivered hand-written messages of encouragement contributed by Jane Lightburn and her students in the Liberal Arts Division of Aichi Gakuin University in Aichi-ken.  Many thanks to Ms. Lightburn and company for their contribution - psychological support is as important as material aid in helping people recover.

Although we don't have photos of the Tagajo and Shiogama deliveries, you can check out photos from this delivery here.

Friday, May 27, 2011

School Supplies Project Update

Apologies for the long delay between updates.  It has taken some time for our initial projects to bear fruit and as school has resumed here we have less time for things like volunteer activities.  But at last, there is some news to report - we've distributed the first batch of school supplies we purchased with your donations to students at Urato Elementary School in Shiogama, Miyagi, as well as students at several elementary schools in the neighboring town of Tagajo.  Unfortunately, I don't have pictures yet, but our colleagues Yoko and Shoko report that the children were very happy and wanted to thank all of you who helped them.

We have also arranged to deliver some school supplies to students who attended Togura Elementary School
in Minamisanriku.  As anyone who has followed the news closely knows, Minamisanriku was perhaps the hardest hit of any town in Japan, and many people there literally lost everything but the clothes on their backs - helping these people is more important than anything.  The supplies should be delivered early next month.

Hopefully I will be able to update the Flickr page with photos soon.  Keep checking for new updates.