Helping out

I'm trying to find the best ways to help out the victims of the earthquake and tsunami up in northeast Japan. I found some websites that made me a little confused about donating to Japan from the U.S.
http://aidwatchers.com/2011/03/does-japan-need-your-donation/
http://chrisblattman.com/2011/03/15/dont-give-money-to-japan/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+chrisblattman+%28Chris+Blattman%29

I guess you can believe what you want, but I do think Japan will need help from other countries, especially America, and that donating to the Red Cross in general is a good idea.

Anyway, here are some cool projects I've found:

1. BE ONE Tohuku Aid
The website is half Japanese, half English. A teacher in my company is part of a church called "Be One" and her friends are running this project where they drive up to Sendai from Osaka to deliver food, water, supplies, etc. and help rescue people. I like this project because you actually know who your money/donations are going to and that they are being used. Check out the photos and read the wife's blog for more information.
They are also accepting clothing and toys now, but please keep in mind that space is limited in their van.

2. Japan Relief Effort
I found links on the Gap website and now they are selling limited-edition T-shirts! I love Gap! I like the links found on global giving because they tell you what your donation will provide people with. There are also links to the Save the Children foundation which tells you how different increments can provide children with different necessities.

3. Yahoo news
Here is a list of different organizations on the Yahoo website.

4. Other...
A list of organizations accepting donations found from doing a little research:
Yomiuri Light and Humanity Association
www.yomiuri-hikari.or.jp/
The Central Community Chest of Japan
www.akaihane.or.jp/en/
The Japanese Red Cross Society
www.jrc.or.jp/english/
The Japan Committee for UNICEF
www.unicef.or.jp/
GiveOne
www.giveone.net/
Yahoo Japan Volunteer
volunteer.yahoo.co.jp/donation/
The Nippon Foundation
www.nippon-foundation.or.jp/eng/
(Note that some are in Japanese.)

In Japan, we can donate pretty much anywhere. I think the majority of people are donating to the Japanese Red Cross. We can even use the ATM machines at convenience stores to select an amount to donate, print out a ticket/receipt for it and pay the amount at the cashier! Isn't that cool??? Also, my friend went to donate blood but she said she couldn't because there was a 2-hour wait! I love how dedicated the Japanese are to helping each other!