Around the world on Friday, March 11, 2011, we watched in horror as a magnitude 8.9 earthquake, with an epicenter 231 miles (373 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo and 80 miles (130 km) east of Sendai, Honshu in the Pacific Ocean, generated a tsunami that devastated the mostly rural region of Northern Japan. The immediate destruction of the earthquake and tsunami included destroyed or toppled houses and buildings, overturned train cars, and mud and debris pushed miles inland. The livelihoods of millions of people were wiped out, the human toll incalculable.
The disaster has made even the most basic of necessities – food, clothing, and shelter – hard to come by. The international community and nonprofit organizations have stepped in, mobilizing rescue workers and providing relief to the victims of the disaster. You, too, can help the victims of the disaster by providing relief supplies or donating money. The fastest way to help is to make a $10 donation by sending a text message from your mobile phone to an organization’s short code. Ten organizations have established a text message short code so far.
Simply text the specific word to the organization’s designated short code:
Adventist Development and Relief Agency – ADRA Relief
- Text SUPPORT to 85944
American Red Cross – Japanese Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief
- Text REDCROSS to 90999
Convoy of Hope – Disaster Response
- Text TSUNAMI or SUNAMI to 50555
GlobalGiving – Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund
- Text JAPAN to 50555
International Medical Corps – Emergency Response Fund
- Text MED to 80888
Mercy Corps – Help Survivors of Japan’s Earthquake
- Text MERCY to 25383
Salvation Army – Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Efforts
- Text JAPAN to 80888
Save the Children Federation – Japan Earthquake Tsunami Relief
- Text JAPAN or TSUNAMI to 20222
World Relief – Japanese Tsunami Relief
- Text WAVE to 50555
World Vision – Japan Quake and Tsunami Relief
- Text 4JAPAN or 4TSUNAMI to 20222
The $10 donation will show up on your next phone bill. Every little bit helps.
Canadian vlogger, BusanKevin, lives in Kobe, Japan. He has appealed to Canadians and Americans to help in any way they can.