Christmas Present Drive for Tohoku Kids

Photos of Rikuzen Takata Devastation @Ikuru Kuwajima

Let’s bring a bit of Christmas cheer to the children of Rikuzentakata, Tohoku!

This area was particularly hard hit by this year's Tsunami devastation on March 11, 2011. The children in the area would be so encouraged and excited to receive a Christmas present to raise their spirits.

The volunteer group, "Aki-Rikuzentakata Dream Support Team" has decided to try and make sure every child in Rikuzentakata city in Iwate gets at least one Christmas present this year, and we’d like your help to achieve this ambitious goal. 

According to official figures, there are currently 1043 children in elementary schools, and 601 junior high school students in our adopted sister city and the goal is to collect enough donated Christmas presents to give them all one each. So here is what we are asking people to do: Please buy a gift to the value of up to 1000yen and send it to the address in Hiroshima below. Fresh foods and animals are prohibited by law, but apart from that anything goes.

Size: maximum 10cm x 10cm x 10cm Please wrap the gift yourself but write the following information on a (removable) tag on each gift:

•  Suitable age range for gift: Choose from: Elementary (6-9yrs old) / 10-12 yrs /12-15 yrs old) 
• Suitable for Boy/Girl/ Unisex (either boy or girl) 
• Contents of the package ( toy/book/stationery/candy/clothing etc...) 

This information will be removed before the gift is given to the child (it is for the staff who will sort the gifts). If possible, please write this information in Japanese. English is also fine, but please write clearly.

If you would like to add a personal message, please attach a message card for the gift. You can also add your name and address if you like.

All collected gifts will be distributed among the elementary schools and junior high schools of Rikuzentakata city in Iwate Prefecture, which was badly hit by the March 11th Tsunami.

 Please mail gifts to arrive by December 15th** to: 〒739-1103 Hiroshima-ken, Akitakata-shi, Koda Shimokobara 12277-1 Takata Concrete Kogyo nai: Aki-Rikuzentakata Yume Oendan Jimukyoku 

(address in Japanese) 〒７３９－１１０３広島県安芸高田市甲田町下小原１２７７-１有限会社高田コンクリート工業内　安芸・陸前高田　夢応援団事務局 　(*)Tel:０８２６-４５-２６１１

 * NOTE The above number is only for shipping invoice purposes, please do not call it for information. For more information in English, please contact Jackie Ikegami 090 7890 9464) 


**DEADLINE: December 15th, 2011 (Gifts arriving at the above address after December 15th may not be able to be reach Rikuzentakata in time for Christmas)