The victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan have not been forgotten. Volunteers from Fukushima Kenjinkai, Makiki Christian Church and crocheters from Oahu and California are making sure of it.
These are helping hands wanting to make a difference.
"Oh yes, everything by hand," said volunteer Betty Kodani.
Touching lives one stitch at a time.
"It came from their hearts. It wasn’t money it wasn’t anything but it was something tangible and expression of their care of all the people there," said Eileen Clarke.
Jeanette Yoshinobu is one of dozens of volunteers who has spent weeks crocheting beanies for the victims of the Japan earthquake and tsunami.
"To help people in Japan for the winter months to keep them warm because a lot of them lost everything you know," said Yoshinobu.
"These are for the babies," said Kodani.
"Oh my goodness we have now 700 caps, adults, youth, children and scarves and afghans," said Clarke.
Volunteers have seen the devastation on television and in newspapers, now two of them will see it with their own eyes when they hand-deliver 10 boxes to Fukushima and Iwata.
"What we’re doing right now is trying to organize it, pack it so that I can take it with me when I leave on Saturday," said Clarke. "Should we label these or not should we put youth?"
Clarke came up with the idea after hosting a Japanese family with three children shortly after the disaster.
"I realized that although we have been United States has been giving them a lot of money there was not a whole lot being directly, personally received by the victims," said Clarke.
She presented the idea to friends and church members.
"And it took like wildfire," said Kodani.
"Initially there was a lot of attention, not a whole lot anymore but really this is the time when they’re going to be really experience cold and it gets cold there," said Clarke. "These are the youth I mean how cute is this."
These beanies from Hawaii will send a strong message, they have not been forgotten.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
