Update #3
Track the first shipment of tools as it makes its way to Ryo and co in Japan: http://ype.yamatoparcel.co.jp/ktt/track?lang=en, tracking number 184847012280
Update #2
April 29th - Goal has been reached! Thanks to everyone who donated, we raised over $1600 in under 4 days. The tools that will be ordered enable direct impact on people's homes and lives in Japan, thanks to Ryo and the volunteer team over there.
If you'd still like to donate, I'll still be accepting until Saturday, at which point I'll tally what we have and maximize the amount of tools we can purchase and send out. Check back over the next couple weeks for some updates.
Thanks again, your deposit in the 'faith in humanity' bank is substantial and interest-bearing.
Update #1
With your generous help, at 3:12pm, April 28th, the first set of tools to be shipped to Ryo and team in Japan was purchased. The items that will be shipped in this first batch are:
- Makita LXT405 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Kit, 4-Piece
- Bare-Tool Makita BSS611Z 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 6-1/2-Inch Circular Saw
- Makita DC18SE 18 Volt Li-ion Nickel Metal Hydride Optimum Automotive Charger
- Makita BL 1830-2 18-Volt 3.0 AH Battery, 2-Pack
We are nearing the goal, another order will be placed Saturday, with any remainder of the money going to buy extra tools or to Ryo's organization. After the goal is hit and the 2nd set of tools ordered, I will shut down fundraising on Saturday evening and send a letter of thanks to all who donated and cc Ryo so he can thank you himself (whenever he has a chance to catch his breath).
The amount of support and generosity has been incredible, thank you all!
Your donation is appreciated to buy needed specific materials (cordless drills, circular saws and batteries) for a specific volunteer team in Japan that is helping to clear out and rebuild Iwate, one of the hardest hit prefectures.
Hi friends, this is Eric Wu. You know about the huge earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in March. A friend of mine, Ryo Chijiiwa, has flown to Japan to volunteer with the disaster relief effort. He arrived April 15th and has been blogging and flickring about his experiences there.
As someone who wanted to help Japan but felt helpless to do so, I am extremely impressed that Ryo is willing and able to use his language and self-taught infrastructure building skills to good use in Japan, helping to clear out debris and repair homes. I asked him if there was anything I could do to help, and he has said that supplies of power tools (among other things) are constrained in Japan and that they could use another set or two of specific cordless power tools, namely Makita 18V LXT cordless circular saws, driver-drills, and several extra batteries and chargers.
According to Ryo, "One set of these tools will equip one gutting team, which can work on 2 houses a day. That's 12 houses a week that we can help preserve and bring one step closer to rehabilitating."
I am collecting money to buy the equipment here in the US and send them over to Ryo and his team in Japan. The goal is $1600, which will buy 2 sets of the equipment requested. Because the sooner they receive the equipment the more people they can help, time is a factor. I started fundraising the morning of April 26th, my goal is to ship out the first set of tools by Friday, April 29th. If more than $1600 is raised, I will purchase and ship more sets or donate the money directly to Ryo's team or the All Hands Volunteers organization.
May 2, 2011 - [Paypal and Amazon links removed] Fundraising complete! Thank you for your exceptional generosity!
Photos from Ryo in Japan
Drywall removal
Shoveling silt and mud from floorboards
Ofunato
Takata High School
Fundraising complete!
Donation stats:
Fundraising began April 26, 2011
$1971 donated by 28 awesome people to date
Last 8 donations received:
$100 on 5/1 5:49pm
$100 on 4/29 9:32pm
$70 on 4/29 11:17am
$101 on 4/29 5:58am
$70 on 4/29 1:15am
$100 on 4/29 12:42am
$100 on 4/28 10:49pm
$100 on 4/28 9:11pm
Highest individual donation: $100
Thank you, donators: BM, LS, KA, JS, EW, MW, GC, ML, DH, WW, DH, BK, AP, GM, HT, NM, EK, JK, RM, SP, YF, ML, WP, HK, TW, DC, CR, SJ
Items to be purchased:
18V 6.5in circular saw
18V Driver drill
Li-ion batteries (4)
Rapid battery charger
12V car charger