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Community Corner

Help Out With Earthquake And Tsunami Relief Efforts

Do your part to support victims by giving through locally-based organizations

In response to the devastation of the earthquake and tsunami aftermath in Japan and the Pacific, locally-based organizations are taking up the cause of people and families whose lives have been forever changed.

Last Friday, the largest earthquake in 140 years struck Japan along with a Tsunami that hit the Pacific region. The earthquake registered at a magnitude of 8.9; the quake and tsunami combo leveled buildings, cracked highways, and generated high casualties with hundreds of unsuspecting citizens missing, wounded, and killed.

to offer services via the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). And there are ways local residents can continue to help, too. Patch has crafted a list of organizations that are accepting assistance and donations to help out with this crisis:

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Find out what's happening in Viennawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Convoy Of Hope; The DC global relief  organization is accepting online donations. You can also text TSUNAMI to 50555 and donate $10 to Convoy of Hope’s Disaster Response efforts.

  • Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team (AMURT); An AMURT team is travelling with the Japanese Self-Defense Force from Nagano to Sendai in order to do disaster assessment. The Rockville, MD non-profit is expecting there will be a great need for volunteers. Check their website to see if you can join.

  • Operation Blessing International (OBI); With a warehouse located in Virginia Beach, VA, OBI is offering ways to help. Currently, OBI is acessing the situation and formulating what is the most effective way to help as many people as possible. In the mean time donations can be made online on their website to the Disaster Relief Fund.

  • Many organizations are still trying to determine the best way to aid with this tragedy. To find out more ways to help or offer condolence emails check out the Embassy of Japan's website, and look at some of these organizations that are helping with disaster relief.

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