I need your help

As most of you know by now, my home country was hit by a catastrophic natural disaster on March 11th. At this point after 11 days, the death toll from the earthquake and tsunami was raised to 8,649, with 13,262 more still missing.

I have a friend here in NYC, who is originally from the Sendai coastal area, which was closest to the quake epicenter. Miyagi prefecture, which Sendai is a part of, was worst hit, with a confirmed death toll of 4,882 and sadly, they are expecting many more. Tsunami demolished her hometown of Natori under water. Last weekend, it took a couple of days to confirm that her family members are alive. Words simply fail me to describe how we feel with such complex layers of emotions.

Over 360,000 people have been displaced from their homes and have taken shelter in evacuation facilities. If you can, put yourself there for a second. Living with many other strangers in an open space with bare minimal necessities or not even with no privacy and with limited access to shower or bath. Knowing your family has passed and there is no home to go home to. Or not knowing where your family members are and when you can get out of the shelter.

My friend, Miki Takahashi, I mentioned above has set up a site where your money will go directly toward helping Miyagi prefecture through NY Miyagi Kenjinkai (group of New Yorkers from Miyagi prefecture), her hometown of Natori city, Takahashi Family and shelters with children who lost their family. I'm sure you have made your donations to various organizations already, but I ask you to extend your support if you can. Any amount is deeply heartfelt.

www.help311jp.bbnow.org

Thank you so much for all of your continuous support and prayers.