Worldwide Support Helps Salvation Army Emergency Response in Japan

Japan Relief: Facts and Figures from The Salvation Army’s USA National Headquarters
March 16, 2011

The Salvation Army has resources on the ground working to support survivors of the devastating 9.0 earthquake in northeastern Japan.
·    The Salvation Army in Japan has three emergency service relief teams operating in impacted areas; the teams have been recognized by the Japanese government and given access to access roads and areas currently closed off to the general public.
·    A disaster team in Sendai handed out 1,000 hot meals as well as hot drinks and handi-towels to survivors.
·    Another team in the Mito area unloaded bottles of water, biscuits, blankets, diapers and tissue boxes for distribution to evacuees.
·    The third team headed to assist evacuees from near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station, but snow and fuel shortages diverted the team to other areas to support evacuees.
The Salvation Army has had a presence in Japan since 1895 and is also mobilizing a significant international response to manage both immediate and long-term needs.
·    Two experienced International Emergency Services workers have flown to Tokyo from International Headquarters in London to assist their Japanese colleagues.
·    The Salvation Army’s Korea Territory has arranged for the K-Water Corporation to provide 100,000 bottles of water to be sent to Japan – 30,000 bottles by the end of the week, followed by the rest within a short time; the Korea Disaster Relief Association will also be sending 5,000 first-aid kits.
·    In a touching show of solidarity 1,500 young Salvationists in Haiti – who themselves were recently impacted by a devastating earthquake – held a rally in Fond-des-Nègres to pray for victims and survivors in Japan.
The Salvation Army is calling on everyone to pray for the survivors and victims of the Japan earthquake.
·    Monetary donations are the most critical need as supplies and personnel are mobilized.
·    These funds offer the greatest flexibility and enable local disaster responders to purchase exactly what is needed as close to the disaster zone as possible.
·    There are four ways people can contribute money to The Salvation Army’s disaster relief efforts in Japan:
o    Text the words JAPAN or QUAKE to 80888 to make a $10 donation.
o    By phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY
o    On-line at:  https://salvationarmyindiana.org
o    By mail: Send your check, marked “Japan earthquake relief” to
The Salvation Army Indiana Divisional Headquarters
3100 North Meridian Street
Indianapolis, IN  46208
·    At this time, The Salvation Army is not accepting donations of goods or household items (gifts-in-kind) from the general public for disaster relief operations in Japan.
·    The Salvation Army is extremely grateful for the generosity that has already poured in to help us meet both immediate and long-term needs.
·    Here are there updated donation totals as of this afternoon, March 16.
Online:     $1,940,380.00
Text to give:     $111,590.00
1800-sal-army    $59,000.00
Mail    $1,200.00
Lockbox    $5,651.00
Total        $2,117,821.00

The Salvation Army In Japan Begins Response

The Salvation Army in Japan is responding to the earthquake and tsunami that brought devastation to the north of the country. Communication and travel have been badly hit by the disaster, and at the moment the true cost in human life and property can only be guessed.

The most damaged city is Sendai, about 400 kilometers away from Tokyo. Commissioner Makoto Yoshida, leader of The Salvation Army’s Japan Territory, was at territorial headquarters in Tokyo and reports: ‘Our building swayed tremendously. It was hard for us to keep standing and many of us were really frightened.’ He adds: ‘We are sending a team to Sendai tonight [11 March] and tomorrow we will start providing the basic necessities as well as assessing the level of damage so we can decide what else we can do.’

Public transport in Tokyo stopped because of the earthquake, leaving many commuters unable to leave work. Commissioner Yoshida says: ‘We opened our hall on the ground floor of territorial headquarters to those who could not go home. We served them with hot drinks and packed meals.’ General Shaw Clifton, the international leader of The Salvation Army, has already been in touch with the commissioner to assure him of the prayers and support of Salvationists around the world.

Currently, those interested in aiding the relief effort are encouraged to give monetary donations. Monetary funds offer great flexibility and enable local disaster responders to purchase exactly what is needed as close to the disaster zone as possible.

There are four ways people can contribute money to The Salvation Army’s disaster relief efforts in Japan:

• Text the words “Japan” or “Quake” to 80888 to make a $10 donation.
• By phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY
• On-line at: www.salvationarmyindiana.org
• By mail: Send your check, marked “Japan earthquake relief” to

The Salvation Army Indiana Division

3100 North Meridian St.

Indianapolis, IN  46208

At this time, The Salvation Army is not accepting in-kind donations from the general public for disaster relief operations in Japan. Bear in mind, it will be extremely difficult and expensive to ship in-kind donations overseas from the United States to Japan. It is more efficient for disaster relief agencies to purchase needed resources locally and for immediate distribution with the disaster area. The best way for U.S. donors to help Japanese disaster survivors is to make a cash donation. Please note that your local The Salvation Army continues to accept donations of used clothing, furniture and other items to support local programming. Please consider donating your used items to your local Salvation Army Thrift Store.

Since 1895, The Salvation Army has provided emotional, spiritual and physical care to individuals and families in need throughout Japan. Currently, 81 active officers and 1,068 employees operate 57 church and community centers (Corps), 12 small social service stations (outposts), 2 hospitals and more than 20 institutions serving children, seniors, the addicted and other at-risk populations. Due to the Army’s extensive presence, it is unlikely that volunteers from the United States will be needed for initial recovery operations.

NOTE: Terms for “Text to Give” – A one-time donation of $10.00 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Please be sure to respond with the word YES to the Thank You! message you will receive All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on most carriers. Visit mobilecause.com for terms and conditions  or text HELP. Text STOP to cancel. Message & Data Rates May Apply

Indiana EDS Director Returns To Haiti

It will soon be one year since Jerry Larsen, Salvation Army Indiana Disaster Services Director  returned home to Indiana after serving post-earthquake in Haiti. The Disaster Response team left Indpls. International Airport PAP bound only one week after the earthquake,  with the assignment of serving a 2 week rotation in Port au Prince.  They returned to their spouses, children and grandchildren on Valentine’s Day. I remember the emotions they brought back with them, both evident in their words and on their faces. It was a time of living and working closely with the desperate, hungry, injured and dead. And it was the team member’s urgently needed skills that kept them amongst the Haitian people for nearly 4 weeks.

Once again those skills are being summoned to assist with The Salvation Army’s ongoing efforts in Haiti which have progressed into the next phase deemed “reconstruction and rebuilding.” Jerry will drive to Chicago Monday morning to meet with territorial leaders before flying out for Haiti on the 8th of February.

Since the earthquake last January, The Salvation Army has  continued serving thousands of Haitians, in many different ways. One way that this new phase seeks to make an ongoing difference is to provide housing. Jerry will be leading a team to construct several small houses for families near Jacmel. “The houses we build are meant to be permanent, but TSA has been building temporary housing in several areas over the last several months. I believe there are about 7 to 800 of those completed now and the goal is 3,000 over the next couple of years.”

When I asked Jerry if there was anything he was looking forward to, upon returning to Haiti, he answered, “I am looking forward to the possibility of seeing some of the people I met while I was there last year. Maybe even seeing the little one that is in the photo on my Facebook page.  Needless to say, I am looking forward to a successful mission by completing the work we plan to do there. I try to have a positive outlook on all of this, and know that there is only so much we can do. I think of one person or family at a time that we are able to help.”

As a team, they are taking along some items to give the Haitian people, such as school supplies, toys and some clothing. Summing up his mission, Jerry added this, “As I have said so many times, it is not about me or the team…it is about helping those in need.”

Indiana EDS Director Returns To Haiti

It will soon be one year since Jerry Larsen, Salvation Army Indiana Disaster Services Director  returned home to Indiana after serving post-earthquake in Haiti. The Disaster Response team left Indpls. International Airport PAP bound only one week after the earthquake,  with the assignment of serving a 2 week rotation in Port au Prince.  They returned to their spouses, children and grandchildren on Valentine’s Day. I remember the emotions they brought back with them, both evident in their words and on their faces. It was a time of living and working closely with the desperate, hungry, injured and dead. And it was the team member’s urgently needed skills that kept them amongst the Haitian people for nearly 4 weeks.

Once again those skills are being summoned to assist with The Salvation Army’s ongoing efforts in Haiti which have progressed into the next phase deemed “reconstruction and rebuilding.” Jerry will drive to Chicago Monday morning to meet with territorial leaders before flying out for Haiti on the 8th of February.

Since the earthquake last January, The Salvation Army has  continued serving thousands of Haitians, in many different ways. One way that this new phase seeks to make an ongoing difference is to provide housing. Jerry will be leading a team to construct several small houses for families near Jacmel. “The houses we build are meant to be permanent, but TSA has been building temporary housing in several areas over the last several months. I believe there are about 7 to 800 of those completed now and the goal is 3,000 over the next couple of years.”

When I asked Jerry if there was anything he was looking forward to, upon returning to Haiti, he answered, “I am looking forward to the possibility of seeing some of the people I met while I was there last year. Maybe even seeing the little one that is in the photo on my Facebook page.  Needless to say, I am looking forward to a successful mission by completing the work we plan to do there. I try to have a positive outlook on all of this, and know that there is only so much we can do. I think of one person or family at a time that we are able to help.”

As a team, they are taking along some items to give the Haitian people, such as school supplies, toys and some clothing. Summing up his mission, Jerry added this, “As I have said so many times, it is not about me or the team…it is about helping those in need.”

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