Request to Japanese/Japan-based Freepers: What's best, fastest way to send aid to most affected?

self

[quesney]

To Japanese and Japan-based Freepers:

What's the best, quickest way of getting aid to people on the ground directly -- via local groups, religious instutitons, etc.

I'd rather not give it to an international bureaucracy like the Red Cross (Japanese website was confusing), other NGO's or government.

This is being posted Front/Breaking because I imagine a lot of other Freepers want this info and, let's face it, it's an emergency over there and these people need quick, effective help as soon as they can get it.

I've seen too many stories of waste, corruption and abuse (Haiti, Katrina, etc.) and would rather bypass this and get as big a share of every dollar to the people who need it now as soon as possible.

[fight_truth_decay]

But then Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Tuesday just said this about that:

Is the Obama "tour" in Rio yet..safer to be further away from any radiation fallout ;) .....

[Allegra]

The Red Cross is probably the best shot and is the first thing on the list.

I give to the Salvation Army. They actually help where it's needed.

The Red Cross has been busted spending donations on inflated salaries and excessive admin costs too many times.

[Tax-chick]

I agree. Donating to help Japan, you can anticipate that there will be actual recovery - rebuilding and a return to normal life. Donating to Haiti, you have to accept that, at best, you’re simply helping a few people to survive in a country that is going to continue to be utterly miserable.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

"Mind if I play through?".....

[AnnCee]

I agree with you. The Salvation Army already has a strong presence there, strong staff, good buildings, vehicles, a volunteer base, supplies. They are ready and they don’t waste time or money. Your donations to Salvation Army will ALWAYS help those most in need.

[struggle]

I’m sending my public high school’s donation to the “Samaritan’s Purse,” Billy Graham’s charity, that way it goes through local churches and hopefully some people get saved.

When your house’s wiped away, but you have Jesus, you don’t need the house.

[AnnCee]

I sold a house to a couple moving from California after the San Francisco earthquake. They lost their home and almost everything in it. In the immediate aftermath when they went to the Red Cross for help with shelter they were turned away because they had a savings account. Meanwhile homeless people were being bussed into the area and put up in the motels meant for quake victims. I have no way to confirm this story but the couple’s cold rage surely convinced me and I’ve never donated to the Red Cross again.

[thesearethetimes...]

Thank you quesney for the thread, and Thank you Lord, for the Salvation Army.
Because it is hard to imagine FreeRepublic without Laz :)

Prayers for Japan.
Tatt

[PGR88]

Just pray for them. Japan, for all its problems, is in pretty good shape. It has a smart, educated populace who are cooperating and not rioting. Its infrastructure is top-notch. The electricity is on everywhere and besides some short-term panic, things are running normally (except in Sendai, of course)

They have Trillions of dollars, so much so that any extra aid the USA offers them, will probably have to be borrowed from Japanese or Chinese in the first place!!

[DoughtyOne]

Sounds good. Yes, I understand your misgivings about some relief organizations.

[DoughtyOne]

I guess this is something that should be addressed, but it seems unseemly to do it right now. It’s as if it’s all about us, rather than Japan.

I agree with your giving philosophy.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks for your note of agreement AnnCee.

[Freddd]

I stopped giving to the Red Cross personally after the 9-11 debacle, learning they were Union and stopped delivering blood over contract negotiation failures-

‘Red Cross blood operations workers are on strike after a year of failed negotiations.

More than 1,000 union workers in six different states have stepped off the job and taken the picket line.-2010

But mostly I stopped donating to the Red Cross because they will change their decades old symbol, BECAUSE IT OFFENDS MUSLIMS.

I do donate to Samaritan’s purse, with Franklin Graham.

[Roccus]

Hi, AQ....been a while.

The SA has been my charity of choice for decades. They are, without a doubt, FAR superior to the Red Cross. I learned that in the service back in the 60’s. Subsequent interaction with the RC has only bolstered that opinion.

[meyer]

Thanks for the link, Thackney. Just made a donation to the Salvation Army for relief efforts in Japan.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Caritas International/ CRS /Caritas Japan

Rating of "A" from American Institute of Philanthropy

Extremely Low overhead--- Already on the ground ---Serves all with no discrimination --- Action teams reaching people with supplies despite destroyed infrastructure

Donate by Phone

Call

1-800-736-7090

from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Donate by Mail

Mail check or money order to Catholic Relief Services 228 W. Lexington St. Baltimore, Maryland 21201-3443 | 888-277-7575 in the memo portion of the check write Japan emergency.

Donate by Internet Secure Server (Click)

https://secure.caritas.org/donation.aspx?DonationTo=E&Emergency=34

Donate Direct to Japan

Caritas Japan
Japan Catholic Center
2-10-10 Shiomi
Koto-ku, Tokyo
135-8585 JAPAN

Phone: 81-3-5632-4439
FAX: 81-3-5632-4464

[dynachrome]

Thanks. I don’t donate to the Red Cross anymore, due to their stance on Israel.

[ponygirl]

Is that you, Barry?

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

SamaritansPurse.org is a class act, very effective and efficient.

[Mrs. Don-o]

garyb, thank you so much for this information about Japan helping US post-Katrina. When I get the apt opportunity I'm going to spread it around.

May God bless Japan. And may God bless you and yours.