Will you donate to Japan?

[SeansMom]

Being a full time student, I've been aware of the disaster in Japan but just today took the time to actually look at photos and read of the devestation in. I then went to our church association webpage and found how I can donate through them. I know Japan is far, far away, but living in an area that is at risk for earthquakes I would want to think that if my family was ever affected people far, far away from me would be willing to help if able.

My questions are:
For those of you who are donating, how did you come up with a figure?

Do you think it's better to spread out donations over 3 months, and give a little more, than give a one time donation?

For those of you who may have friends or family in Japan, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

FYI: There is also some very interesting photos, etc, from Disneyland Tokyo.

 

[secretpantssam]

I donated through the Red Cross and I picked $50 because that's what I can afford right now. It might not be much, but I think they can take all the help they can get.

 

[nunzia]

I will donate through UMCOR, where I know that every dime reaches relief efforts...administrative costs come from a seperate offering once a year.

 

[SeansMom]

I will donate through UMCOR, where I know that every dime reaches relief efforts...administrative costs come from a seperate offering once a year.

Excellent! That is why I'm donating through my church as well

 

[RitaE]

I make regular quarterly donations to UMCOR.

I'll donate additional when I see the right opportunity. DH has many business contacts in the region and his company has offices in Japan, although not in the immediate area of the Earthquake or Tsunami disaster. I'm sure there will be some sort of company campaign.

 

[SeansMom]

I donated through the Red Cross and I picked $50 because that's what I can afford right now. It might not be much, but I think they can take all the help they can get.

Thanks; I guess I need to really look at this months budget and then decide what to give. I'd saved up for a mini-vacation, but maybe I'll do something different and donate part of that money.

 

[amyy]

I was planning to donate through the Red Cross but I will look into the place everyone else is mentioning.

 

[Frannie115]

Our church had a collection this weekend for Japan.

 

[Jessica527]

I want to donate, but I always wonder where my money goes. I will donate in someway, somehow. These pictures/stories break my heart. Will money help? Or is there something material wise that we can do?

 

[akcire]

First let me say I volunteer locally for Ronald McDonald House, and it is one of my charities of choice. I think they do a very good job of using donor funds and have next to zero overhead.

When the earthquake happened in Christchurh-New Zealand, I donated $$ to Ronald McDonald House Global and restricted the usage to the program in Christchurch.

Now that Japan has suffered an earthquake, I am once again donating to Ronald McDonald House Global, but restricting the usage for Japan.

This allows me to work with a charity I know, get a tax deduction here in USA, and have the funds directed towards the needs of sick/injured children and their families. The local RMHC's in NZ and Japan will have the option of using the money I have donated to help people (not just children) with the best usage of the money. This is something I trust them to access on my behalf.

 

[Sinderelly]

I feel so bad for the people of Japan. I can't even imagine the devastation and heartbreak. I won't be donating money though as I am concerned about how much of the money actually gets to the people that need it most. I wonder sometimes if a large percentage of donations goes to administrative costs I would rather help out more locally as there is so much need alot closer to home.

 

[JusbKoz]

YES!!! I will be donating. It breaks my heart to see the news. I still have no clue who to donate to so am interested to see other peoples comments on where they send their donations to.

 

[Styx Fan]

DH and I have not discussed as of yet if we will be making a special donation for Japan. But if we do, we will donate through UMCOR as well.

I can't remember what it all stands for, but UMCOR is a group ran through the United Methodist Church. They are very, very effective and able to really get into the nitty gritty of disaster situations quickly. Often this is because they already have an ongoing presence doing relief work in many areas. When Haiti got hit last year they were already in place so were able to begin immediately.

Yup, I do attend a Methodist church, but if I left I would still make this type of contribution through them.

 

[shortbun]

Does UMCOR allow you to designate the area your contribution effects? I always go through the Red Cross because I know they do. Someone tell me more. We are making a donation by the end of the week. The pictures released today are so intense. We just donated again to Haiti. These horrible catastrophies go on and on.

 

[hipchickie]

Since you asked, no, we will not be donating to Japan. While my heart breaks at the devastation, and I am horrified by the pictures; I know that there are so many parts of the world that need aid, quite frankly, more.
Japan is a rich country, and in the end, they will be able to provide for their citizens.
We choose to give on a regular basis to a third world country that we have ties to, whose government can not provide for it citizens, and where something like clean drinking water is an unimaginable luxury.

 

[JB2K]

Japan is a rich country, and in the end, they will be able to provide for their citizens.

So, I am guessing that there are others on this board of the same mindset?

After all, I am yet to see "find the hidden Mickeys for Japan" (something similar was in play for Haiti on this website within hours of their earthquake).

hipchickie -- some friendly advice -- devastation and destruction does not discriminate...and neither should we.

 

[hipchickie]

not sure how in any way shape or form that is discrimination

I choose to send money to a place I feel personally is more in need. Not because I have anything against Japanese people or the country.
So anyplace that does not get a donation from me means I am discriminating against them? Are you saying people in Japan deserve to live more than others in other countries because they had a natural disaster?

that statement was just odd....

 

[ellone]

Since you asked, no, we will not be donating to Japan. While my heart breaks at the devastation, and I am horrified by the pictures; I know that there are so many parts of the world that need aid, quite frankly, more.
Japan is a rich country, and in the end, they will be able to provide for their citizens.

Just because a country isn't a third world country doesn't mean they are rich. Japan has the world's highest debt to GDP ratio - 200 percent - more than three times the United States' burden.

 

[gk90]

We made a donation to Japan yesterday. While we know very well that they're a rich country (have spent time there including a great trip to Tokyo DisneySea last year) we were moved to donate on seeing the horrific level of devastation and urgent need.
The US is another rich country and we also donate to people in need here in the US.

We donate through Catholic Relief Services. They have an excellent track record of efficiency: more than 94% of their revenue goes directly to programs that benefit the poor overseas

 

[Suz D]

We will be donating through our church. As others have stated, we want to know that our whole donation is going for relief efforts rather than overhead. While overhead is necessary for many charities, in our church it is not.