Jude 2

Pastor Gary tweeted about Shelterbox USA, part of the international aid organization that provides emergency shelter and supplies in large totes delivered directly to hard-hit areas.

While they take donations in any amount, one box contains $1,000 worth of shelter (a large tent) and supplies for up to 10 people.

I'm going to donate one way or the other, but since Pastor Gary linked to the idea, I thought it would be great if all of us who post or lurk here could pool together to raise $1,000 for a complete ShelterBox for Japan.

The site states that their donations are not location specific, but if we give it for the benefit of Japan and it goes to, say, Bolivia flood victims, it offsets the cost of one they'd send to Bolivia so they CAN send one to Japan. In other words, it doesn't matter that you can't specify where to send the ShelterBox you're donating for. Besides, right now Japan has by far the greatest need and I'm pretty sure chances are anything we'd raise would ultimately benefit them.

With your permission, PG, I'm going to pledge $50 for the cause here. Each one of us could send our pledges to ShelterBox directly but post them here OR PM them to whomever Pastor Gary says, "Okay, PM to your pledge to ____". We could set a target of, say, Friday 3/18/2011 at 10PM Pacific Daylight Time. Saturday, we could add the total of publically posted pledges and PM'd pledges. Each person who pledges would be responsible for sending their pledges in to ShelterBox through their website or by mail. We could glorify Jesus through Jude2 by helping Japan.

I'll personally add $50 to that.

If you'd like to run the contributions through my church, I think my Admin. Pastor would be willing to make that happen... though I have not run this past her yet!

If you want to mail a check (sounds kind of quaint and last century now), make it payable to

REUNION CHURCH
45-416 Kamehameha Highway
Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744

In the MEMO line indicate: JAPAN

I will investigate the ShelterBox program a bit, and also connect with a friend who is the head of Samaritan's Purse in the UK and see what will be the most immediate, urgently needed way we can make a difference together.

What’s Inside the Shelter Boxes Going to Japan?

ShelterBox is sending their awesome, super-compact, heavy duty disaster relief boxes to Japan. They pack 100 pounds of equipment in just 33 x 24 x 22 inches. Here's what is inside:

• A custom-made shelter tent that fits up to 10 people, designed to withstand extreme temperatures and rain. It even has privacy partitions inside.
• Thermal blankets and insulated ground sheets.
• Water purification system that runs for six months.
• Industrial-grade steel mini stove that can use wood or any other fuel, for heating and cooking.
• Cooking utensils.
• Bowls, mugs, and other containers.
• Toolbox with hammer, axe, saw, trenching shovel, hoe head, pliers and wire cutters.
• A children pack with drawing books, crayons and pens, to keep the kids distracted after losing all their toys.
• And of course, the heavy duty box can be used to store anything, from food to water.