My Dad called early Friday morning (he is in Beijing) to tell me to turn in the T.V. He had been watching since the earthquake happened. Some in Beijing said they had felt it. I always feel helpless and frustrated that I want to get my hands dirty helping, but from so far away I feel like there is not much I can do. BUT… there are a few things that I can do that will make a small difference in the long run.

Donate Money:

Check and see if you or your husbands employer will match any contributions that you make, many are.

The American Red Cross – Text REDCROSS to 90999 and instantly donate $10 to the Japanese relief efforts.

The Salvation Army – Text JAPAN or QUAKE to 80888 and make an instant donation.

LDS Emergency Response – This is where I donated money this weekend. There is no overhead OR administration costs that are taken out of donations. 100% goes to help those in need.

Want to get your hands dirty?

If you want to actually “get your hands dirty” and make hygiene kits! If your kids are home for spring break this would make a GREAT service project. Have them watch the news for a little while, explain what happened in Japan. Have them help you gather items from the Dollar Store and your stockpile and have a family service project!

Making kits are very simple, the items I didn’t have in my stockpile I got at the Dollar store.
Hygiene kits provide disaster victims with basic items necessary for health and cleanliness.

Assembly Instructions
2 unbreakable combs (no sharp handles)
4 toothbrushes (packaged)
1 tube of toothpaste (6-8 oz., no pumps)
2 bars of soap (approximately 4 to 5 oz.)
2 hand towels (new towels, approximately 15 by 25. Please do not use dish towels or washcloths. To sew towels, serge or zigzag the edges of terry cloth to make a 15 by 25 towel.)

Now, I will deliver these to my Bishops Storehouse to be sent to Japan. If I didn’t live close to a storehouse I could have mailed them. Once donated, these items are processed and prepared for shipment to where they are needed most. In a typical year, the Latter-day Saint Humanitarian Center will ship about 12 million pounds of shoes and clothing, 1 million hygiene kits, and 1 million pounds of medical supplies to relieve suffering in more than 100 countries.

Latter-day Saint Humanitarian Center
1665 Bennett Road
Salt Lake City, UT 84104

*** I will be working on these with my kids today getting items together. Thursday March 17th at 11am if you would like to join us assembling these we would LOVE to have you. I will bring what we have, you bring what you have, and we can let the kids assemble them. If each family can bring enough supplies for 10 bags my goal is 400 to be sent! Paul and I will pay the shipping. We will deliver them to the Bishops Store house in Houston. Email me at mylitter@mac.com with any questions.

Location: The Woodlands Christian Church
Time: 11am
Address: 1202 North Millbend Dr. The Woodlands 77380