Convoy of Hope

Convoy of Hope – One Year Commitment to Japan

“We have made a one-year commitment to several cities in Japan where refugees are living in temporary shelters,” says Hal Donaldson, president of Convoy of Hope. “The generosity of Convoy of Hope’s partners has enabled us to be on the ground meeting needs.”

 

Japan Update 5 from Convoy of Hope on Vimeo.

Thousands of people fled to Koriyama, a city of 340,000 in the Fukushima prefecture, where refugees are living in a large arena partitioned by cardboard boxes.

Convoy of Hope is establishing a warehouse, securing a relief vehicle and providing personnel to aid our partners based in Koriyama. Convoy of Hope is also providing kitchen sets and other household items to families who lost everything to help them begin to rebuild their lives.

You can help by giving online.

A distribution center will also be established in Sendai, one of the areas hardest hit by the disaster, where the need for food, clean water and supplies is on-going.

Thousands of pounds of Aid

April 14, 2011 – Convoy of Hope disaster responders in Japan worked alongside 50 local volunteers to unload and begin distributing a large shipment of food, water and hygiene items.

“There was a lot of joy on the faces of the volunteers helping today”, says Jeff Nene, public relations officer for Convoy of Hope. “They are excited to have the opportunity to help distribute thousands of pounds of food and supplies to people in need.”

You can help by giving online.

While in Japan, Convoy of Hope disaster responders will travel to a displaced persons camp on the western side of the country and also to the hardest hit areas in the north to assess and supply the most critical needs.

In addition to shipping emergency relief items into the country, Convoy of Hope has purchased local supplies for distribution whenever possible. These in-country purchases will aid Japan’s economic recovery in the wake of this disaster.

April 2, 2011

New Convoy of Hope Team Headed to Japan / People Still Waiting for Help

In recent weeks Convoy of Hope has worked tirelessly to bring aid and hope to the people of Japan. This weekend, that work continues as another disaster response team is deploying to Japan. While in Japan, the team will process a container filled with tens of thousands of meals and emergency supplies.

Help Convoy of Hope continue to send teams and supplies.

“We are trying to keep our teams cycling through Japan so that we can get aid to those who are hurting,” says Kary Kingsland, senior vice president of Global Initiatives. “While in Japan the team will continue to work with in-country partners on assessing needs, working out logistical details and ensuring our supplies get to those who need them most.”

Another team recently returned from Japan and filed a video report, which can be viewed on their website at http://www.convoyofhope.org/go/headlines/entry/new_team_headed_to_japan/

March ?, 2011  Video Report viewable on Convoy of Hope’s website at http://www.convoyofhope.org/go/headlines/entry/japan_video_update_3

March ?, 2011 – People still waiting for help.

As our Convoy of Hope disaster responders rode the train in Tokyo, their translator was amazed at how eerily quiet the city seemed. Fears are mounting as the nuclear crisis drags on and radiation levels in the atmosphere, food and water supplies continue to rise. Numerous aftershocks are causing people to ask, “What is going to happen next?”

Help Convoy of Hope help suffering people in Japan.

Amid the confusion and shock, Convoy of Hope disaster responders are meeting with our partners in the country to develop a response plan for the weeks and months ahead.

“The needs that arise in disasters of this magnitude evolve as time passes,” says Paul Coroleuski, field services director for Convoy of Hope. “We have to proactively anticipate what people will need down the road so we can get it on inbound shipments.”

A high school teacher in Tokyo who spoke to our team expressed gratitude for the help coming from Convoy of Hope and other international organizations. “A lot of people are still waiting for help,” he says.

Convoy of Hope is committed to helping those who have lost so much find hope.

March ?, 2011

Team headed for Japan

A Convoy of Hope disaster response team is headed to Tokyo. They will continue the work of an initial team of responders, which was temporarily based in the Philippines and shipped to Japan enough food, water and relief supplies to fill a 40-foot-long container.

While in Japan, the team’s primary goals will be to work through port logistics, ensure current channels are in working order and Convoy of Hope’s footprint in Japan is expanded.

Help Convoy of Hope help Japan.

“Since the earthquake and tsunami we have been able to provide food and supplies, through our in-country partners, to meet people’s needs,” says Kary Kingsland, senior vice president of Global Initiatives for Convoy of Hope. “We will continue meeting needs and are dedicated to finding the most efficient ways to help many more survivors now and in the coming weeks and months.”

Convoy of Hope’s medical advisor, whose knowledge base will be a valuable asset to the team and the treatment of Japanese nationals, will accompany the team headed for Japan.

March 21, 2011 – Ten days after a massive tsunami decimated much of Japan’s northeast coast, Convoy of Hope continues to procure emergency supplies to help people who struggle for survival in its aftermath.

“The magnitude of this disaster creates a long-term need, which does not dissipate because media coverage begins to focus on other world events,” says Kary Kingsland, vice president of Global Initiatives for Convoy of Hope. “We are committed to helping the hurting people of Japan as they work to rebuild their lives.”

Give to help survivors.

Officials estimate more than 450,000 people have lost their homes. Many of these survivors are now in buildings with no heat or running water and food is scarce.
Convoy of Hope’s 40-foot-long container filled with nutritious meals, water, powdered milk and first-aid and hygiene supplies is due to arrive in Tokyo’s port later this week.

March 17, 2011

50,000 Meals Expected

Despite news reports of countries encouraging their citizens to leave Japan because of escalating concerns over radiation, Convoy of Hope is pressing forward with plans to deliver emergency supplies to victims of the earthquake and tsunami.

Help Japan by donating online.

In addition to funds already wired by Convoy of Hope to in-country partners for the purchase of emergency rations, Convoy of Hope is in the process of shipping a 40-foot-long container from the Philippines loaded with more than 50,000 meals, dried fruit, powdered milk, water, and sanitary and cooking supplies.

“This is a desperate situation and because of our on-going feeding initiatives in the Philippines we are able to ship food and resources to the people of Japan much faster,” says Nick Wiersma, disaster response community service director for Convoy of Hope, who is spearheading the shipment from Manila. “This is our first shipment, but it won’t be our last.”

Be a part of Convoy of Hope’s long-term response by giving today.

Along with radiation worries, snow and freezing temperatures are compounding the misery for tens of thousands of homeless people already enduring food and water shortages. Convoy of Hope’s shipment includes gloves for those whose belongings were swept away by the tsunami.

Convoy of Hope’s network of partners in Japan will distribute the items to evacuation shelters and national churches that will quickly get them into the hands of suffering people.

March 16, 2011

Committed to Meeting Needs

Since Japan was hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami, Convoy of Hope’s Disaster Response team has been working around the clock to meet the needs of survivors.

Join the effort by donating online today.

“We’ve deployed a team with 100 water filtration systems and have wired funds to in-country partners for the purchase of emergency food and supplies,” says Hal Donaldson, president of Convoy of Hope. “Because of the radiation threat our team diverted to the Philippines where they are making preparations to ship food and supplies into Tokyo.”

Convoy of Hope partners in Japan are asking for blankets, tents, food, water and more. Because of the size and scope of the disaster, adds Donaldson, the need for food and supplies will be ongoing.

Help Convoy of Hope provide supplies by making an easy donation online.

“Fortunately many individuals, and corporate and ministry partners are lining up behind us, offering to help,” says Donaldson. “We are committed to meeting needs in Japan for many months to come.”

March 15, 2011

Despite the threat of a nuclear meltdown Convoy of Hope is working tirelessly to get much-needed food, water and emergency supplies into the hands of survivors of last week’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

You can help, donate here.

“Our team and partners in Japan are determining the best options for mobilizing and distributing supplies in the hardest hit areas,” says Kary Kingsland, senior vice president of Global Initiatives for Convoy of Hope. “We are poised to help the Japanese people now and in the coming months.”

In addition to food secured in the Pacific region, Convoy of Hope will ship blankets, portable stoves, hygiene products and other items from its world distribution center in Springfield, Mo.

Be a part of our disaster response, donate online today.

“The support of our friends and partners are vital to our relief operations,” says Kingsland. “Our goal is to always respond quickly and efficiently when disasters strike while also building the infrastructure for in-country partners to continue meeting needs in the weeks and months to come.”

March 14

En Route to Japan

Rescue workers in Japan following Friday’s 9.0 earthquake are facing the grim reality of mounting deaths. Convoy of Hope and other humanitarian groups are rushing aid to Japan in the wake of this humanitarian, economic and nuclear crisis.

Help Convoy of Hope ship and distribute relief supplies by donating online today.

Millions face another cold night without water, food or heating while the fear of a nuclear meltdown continues to rise. The death toll is now in the thousands and continues to rise by the hour.

Deployed Convoy of Hope disaster responders will stage initial relief efforts from Manila, Philippines, as officials work to contain radiation exposure at Japan’s nuclear power plants and reopen air traffic.

“Our primary concern is to be sure that we have the right equipment and supplies for the situation,” says Kary Kingsland, senior vice president of Global Initiatives for Convoy of Hope.

Help Convoy of Hope ship and distribute relief supplies by donating online today.

Convoy of Hope will focus on getting water, food and emergency supplies to people in desperate need in the devastated areas. We are communicating with our in-country partners in Japan and other relief organizations to determine where our resources will make the greatest impact. Decisions will be made in the coming hours.

The deployment team is carrying in 100 water filtration units to distribute and will be securing food and supplies in the region.

“Financial gifts have the greatest impact,” stated Kingsland. “Convoy of Hope will use those gifts to help as many people as possible in this time of urgency.”

You can make an impact in Japan by donating online today.

You can also give by texting with the information below:

Text TSUNAMI to 50555 to donate $10 to Convoy of Hope’s Disaster Response efforts.

March 12, 2011

Soon after the 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck Japan; Convoy of Hope’s Disaster Response team established connection with in-country partners who have been impacted by the damage and are identifying the needs and areas where Convoy of Hope may be of the greatest assistance.

“It’s the fifth-largest earthquake ever recorded,” says Kary Kingsland, senior vice president of Global Initiatives for Convoy of Hope. “…we will respond to the needs in Japan and in the United States as needed.”

Donate online now.

According to Kingsland, the Disaster Response team will closely monitor further developments and move forward with plans to help the victims of the disasters.

Convoy of Hope is not seeking volunteers at this time.

Text TSUNAMI to 50555 to donate $10 to Convoy of Hope’s Disaster Response efforts.

Since Convoy of Hope, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, was founded in 1994 we have served more than 41 million people throughout the world through international childrens’ feeding initiatives, community outreaches, disaster response and partner resourcing.

In the past 15 years, Convoy of Hope has been active in 46 states and over 109 countries providing disaster response, conducting community events, and directing nutritional programs and sustainability projects.