Donations Flooding In For Tsunami and Earthquake Victims

Donations were already flooding in from across the Coachella Valley for earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan, according to the American Red Cross.

"It’s so high of the spirit of the American people,'' said Lois Beckman, a development officer for the American Red Cross in Riverside. "When disaster strikes they are immediately there to help their neighbors."

The organization, which has an office in Palm Desert, has already received a large donation from a Rancho Mirage resident.

So far, no one from the Riverside County chapter has been asked to go to Japan.

"The Japanese Red Cross has people there already,'' she said. "We have not received a request at this time. The American Red Cross in the Pacific Islands of Hawaii and Guam and on the West Coast are on alert."

She reminded valley residents to make their homes disaster ready. A disaster kit can be purchased through the American Red Cross by calling 1-888-831-0031.

According to Beckman, the American Red Cross can accept donations designated to the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami. 

"Your gift to the American Red Cross will support our disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific,'' she said. "On those rare occasions when donations exceed American Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters."

She said donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters. 

TO DONATE: Visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.  Contributions may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter at P.O. Box 55040, Riverside, CA 92517 or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. People can also donate $10 by texting REDCROSS to 90999 to support disaster relief efforts in Japan and throughout the Pacific.

Here are some other ways to donate:

Save the Children, the world's leading independent organization for children, released a statement today that the organization is "mobilizing its global resources to respond to the needs of children and families affected by the earthquake and its aftermath, and an international emergency team has been dispatched to assist staff in Japan." Those looking to donate to that effort can visit Save the Children's donation page.

Global Giving has set up a fund-raising effort that has raised thousands of dollars so far and "will disburse funds to organizations providing relief and emergency services to victims of the earthquake and tsunami," according to the Global Giving donor website. Donors can choose to give a one-time or recurring donation of anywhere between $25 and $1,000.

The Google Person Finder has been set up for those looking to locate loved ones in Japan. The link to that site is: http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=en.

Do you know of any other ways to donate or help those in need following Japan's earthquake?