2011 Japan Earthquake/Tsunami Victims

Wow!!! Thank you everybody who came to Parima last Friday (March 18, 2011) for our fundraiser!!!! A host of fabulous local Burlington musicians offered their talent for the evening and we had such a fantastic turnout. I was so incredibly humbled by the amount of support within the Burlington community. I am in the process of finalizing the numbers for the evening; unfortunately the numbers cannot be added to the "Chip In" totals.... but I will add them to this page so we can give you all a grand total at the end of our drive!!!!

Again, thank you thank you thank you to everyone who contributed to this wonderful evening to support the victims in Japan.

- Aya

I am working with paypal and with Peace Winds America to ensure that donations are tax deductible. I will be sending a list of donors and their information to Peace Winds America to accompany the money collected during this fund. Still working out the details on that but please know that is what our plan is! I will keep donors updated! Thank you!!

-Emi

My friend Elaine from Barre was kind enough to send me an update she received via email from MercyCorps. It turns out MercyCorps is donating all their donations to Peace Winds Japan. The situation is heart wrenching. Every little bit counts. Thanks again for considering a donation and/or spreading the word.

-Emilie

"Yesterday my Peace Winds counterpart, CEO Kensuke Onishi, visited the badly-affected city of Kesennuma and told me the situation was worse than expected.

The city's port was so badly hit by the tsunami that emergency logistics are extremely difficult. A continued supply shortage is creating a growing need for food, water and fuel. Below-freezing temperatures and periodic snowfall are further complicating relief efforts, along with the unfolding nuclear crisis.

But aid is reaching survivors. Peace Winds has made several trips by van and helicopter to Kesennuma to deliver critical supplies: tents, rice, fruit, and satellite phones that have enabled survivors to call friends and family members -- in some cases for the first time since the disaster. We're also distributing blankets to help survivors endure the frigid temperatures.

Our top disaster-relief expert arrived in Tokyo today. He'll work side-by-side with Peace Winds leadership and field teams to bolster relief efforts, and coordinate the deployment of additional responders in the coming weeks.

On behalf of Peace Winds and the families in Japan you're helping, thank you again.

Sincerely,

Neal Keny-Guyer
Chief Executive Officer "

The response we're getting from everyone is heart warming-thank you so much for your support!! Looking forward to tomorrow (Friday) night's benefit at Parima's and it sounds like there's going to be a good turnout for it:) Hope to see you there if you're in the area!

The news that is coming out of Japan continues to be unsettling. I talked to my dad the yesterday and even he sounded worried... for those of you who know my dad, you know that he isn't one to really show much emotion so when he does, it definitely shakes me up. Both Aya and I have friends in Tokyo who are leaving the city because of the worsening nuclear situation up north. I've tried talking my dad into coming over here but, like so many, he adamantly refuses to entertain the thought of leaving his country and his company behind. In short, he would rather die than leave.

We've had numerous inquiries from friends about the option of writing a check out instead of using the online payment system and I have an answer to that very question! Checks are absolutely welcome! In order to keep track of how much we've raised, we're asking that the checks be mailed to me at

Emilie Inoue

28 Park Street

Apt. B

Burlington, VT 05401

The checks should be made out to Peace Winds America. I'm planning on sending out all the checks I receive in one batch in early April to Peace Winds America headquarters in Seattle.

Thank you all again for your generosity and compassion. I believe in the power of positive energy and we can all do our part by sending each of our own towards Japan!

With much gratitude-

Emilie

In addition to a benefit concert to be held on Friday, March 18th at Parima Thai Restaurant in Burlington, Vermont beginning at 7:00 pm, we will be collecting donations online and will ultimately send all collected money to Peace Winds Japan via Peace Winds America. Peace Winds is a NGO with a local office in Tokyo, located right in our own local ward of Minato-ku. Our goal is to raise at least $4,000 by the end of March in an effort to send money home to help our nation's people who have been affected by this devastating event.

We are so grateful for the support that we have received from everyone in the past week who have asked about the safety of our family and friends. We are relieved to report that our network of family and friends were lucky enough to make it through. Tokyo remains in the dark for many hours a day, and reports are coming in daily from our family and friends that the aftershocks are terrifying and resources are becoming scarce. However, the people of Tohoku have suffered the greatest loss, and need shelter, food, water... whatever we can give.

Please take a moment to check out this non profit group and please consider donating some money towards helping those in need in Japan.