This great tragedy has shaken us here so greatly here at Aznwave.com, we have placed on our blog on hold, for the past couple of days while we absorbed and tried to understand what has happened to our fellow friends in Japan.
If you are like us, you would like to know how you can help, and what can be done. Here are some ways you too can help.
1. Employer Matching
Your employer may match your donations to reputable organizations such as the redcross
2. Text to Donate
The American Red Cross has once again launched a texting campaign to raise money for relief efforts in the Pacific region. Last year, the Red Cross was able to raise over $20 million for Haiti relief through simple text donations.
If you would like to donate to the American Red Cross for Japan Earthquake Relief, just text REDCROSS to 90999. Each text will provide $10 towards the Red Cross’s humanitarian efforts.
3. Donate via Facebook
The Red Cross has also launched a campaign on Causes to raise at least $25,000 for relief efforts. By logging in to Facebook, you can donate anywhere from $10 to $500 to help Tsunami victims and their families.
As of publishing time, the Causes campaign has raised over $40,000 from over 1,000 donors and 3,000 promoters.
4. Buy Virtual Goods
Virtual sweet potatoes and the Japanese Tsunami may not seem related, but buying digital crops could help children affected by the earthquake.
Zynga, known for its effective social good campaigns, has partnered with Save the Children’s Japan Earthquake Tsunami Emergency Fund to get its users to donate money through the purchase of virtual goods in CityVille,FrontierVille, FarmVille and its other games.
100% of the proceeds from the purchase of sweet potatoes in CityVille, radishes in FarmVille or kobe cows inFrontierVille will go towards Save the Children’s efforts to provide relief in the Pacific. The world’s largest social gaming company is shooting to raise $2 million for relief efforts.
Zynga has raised millions of dollars over the last few years with these types of social good campaigns, most notably for the relief efforts in Haiti.
5. “Like” a Facebook Page
The people over at Explore.org are donating $1 for every “Like” of the “Dog Bless You” Facebook page, up to $100,000.
Explore.org founder Charlie Weingarten delivered the challenge at South by Southwest yesterday. “Search and rescue dogs are a critical resource for emergency situations,” he told the audience.
6. Ways to Help on Twitter
Harness the power of your Twitter account to do some good for the people of Japan.
Earlier this morning, Twitter published a blog post detailing ways you can help with the relief efforts. Not only have they updated Japan’s mobile website with the latest information on the disaster, but they have also published a list of hashtags to tweet and/or follow related to the crisis.
Here are some key hashtags to remember:
- #Jishin: focuses around general earthquake information
- #Anpi: a hashtag for the confirmation of the safety of individuals or places
- #Hinan: Evacuation information
- #311care: a hashtag regarding medical information for the victims
- #PrayforJapan: A general hashtag for support and best wishes for victims of the crisis
7. Donate via iTunes
Apple is also dedicating resources to the crisis in Japan. They have created a simple donation page in iTunes[iTunes link] that makes it simple to donate anywhere from $5 to $200 to the Red Cross with just a few clicks.
8. Donate via Paypal
Paypal has a quick link to donate quickly to reputable organizations here
10. Buy a Bracelet
Lady Gaga has created a bracelet, where 100% of the proceeds will benefit the victims in Japan. The bracelet is $5.00 you can also add a donation to your order, you can purchase it here
11. Donate Blood
If you are not in a position to donate money, you can donate blood
The RedCross is seeking Blood Donations, for the quake victims in Japan.
To learn more about blood donation opportunities, visit www.redcrossblood.org/ or
call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733 2767).
12. Ask a Friend to Donate
If you decide to help Japan, please ask a friend to do the same.
Organizations To Choose From:
AMERICAN RED CROSS: Emergency Operation Centers are opened in the affected areas and staffed by the chapters. This disaster is on a scale larger than the Japanese Red Cross can typically manage. Donations to the American Red Cross can be allocated for the International Disaster Relief Fund, which then deploys to the region to help. Donate here.
GLOBALGIVING: Established a fund to disburse donations to organizations providing relief and emergency services to victims of the earthquake and tsunami. Donate here.
SAVE THE CHILDREN: Mobilizing to provide immediate humanitarian relief in the shape of emergency health care and provision of non-food items and shelter. Donate here.
SALVATION ARMY: The Salvation Army has been in Japan since 1895 and is currently providing emergency assistance to those in need. Donate here.
AMERICARES: Emergency team is on full alert, mobilizing resources and dispatching an emergency response manager to the region. Donate here.
CONVOY OF HOPE: Disaster Response team established connection with in-country partners who have been impacted by the damage and are identifying the needs and areas where Convoy of Hope may be of the greatest assistance. Donate here.
INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS: Putting together relief teams, as well as supplies, and are in contact with partners in Japan and other affected countries to assess needs and coordinate our activities. Donate here.
SHELTER BOX: The first team is mobilizing to head to Japan and begin the response effort. Donate here.
Other locations by country:
United States of America:
American Red Cross Online Donation Page
People can also text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
To contact or locate U.S. citizens living or traveling in Japan, contact the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services:
1-888-407-4747 (within the United States)
(202)647-5225 (from Abroad)
Canada:
Canadian Red Cross Donation Page
People can also donate by:
- Calling 1-800-418-1111
- Texting the word ASIA to 30333 to make a one-time donation of $5
- Cheques should be made payable to the Canadian Red Cross, earmarked “Japan Earthquake/Asia-Pacific Tsunami” and mailed to the Canadian Red Cross National Office, 170 Metcalfe Street, Suite 300, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2P2.
To locate Canadians who may be affected, call the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade at 613-944-2471 (613-943-1055), or toll free within Canada at 1-800-606-5499 (or 1-800-387-3124), or email sos@international.gc.ca.
United Kingdom:
British nationals in Japan who require assistance should contact the Foreign Office helpline in London: +44 20 7008 0000 (from Japan) or 020 7008 0000 (in the UK). You can also e-mail the Foreign Office on japan.earthquake@fco.gov.uk or skype (text not call) on “fcojapan”.
Australia:
If you want to inquire about the safety of family in the region through the Embassy of Japan in Australia, please contact them at 02-6273-3244.
If you are currently living in Japan or have friends and family there, please check the websites of your country’s Japanese embassy for more information. Send us a tip if you have info for your own country.
Source: American Red Cross, Canadian Red Cross, Japanese Embassy websites
