City fundraisers pitch in for Japan

By Jennifer K. Blezard, Calgary HeraldMarch 17, 2011 4:02 AM Calgarians across the city have been contributing to relief efforts for victims of last week's 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan. Knifewear, a business in Inglewood specializing in Japanese knives, is raising funds. Initially, knives were sharpened for donation only, but sharpening prices have been reinstated. Half of all proceeds for sharpening will be donated to the Red Cross until the end of 2011. Tom Hanger, third-year business student at the U of C worked together with third-year business student, Nick Martin of Capilano University to come up with the idea of Tea for Japan. "On Friday night, after watching all the events happening on CNN, Tom called me and said he really wanted to do something to help people," said Martin. He says it was Hanger's idea to sell Japanese Tea. The fundraiser launched last week and has now been boosted by group-buy, Snaggies.com. Sencha tea packets can be bought for $15 at teaforjapan.com. Westview Baptist Church's Japanese congregation is also organizing a fundraiser for this weekend. Youth Leader Jun Ji says there are two locations planned in the city: one in downtown Chinatown and the other at Pacic Place in the northeast. "We're going to bring (money) to the Japanese consulate," said Ji. For Ji, the cause is a personal one. His aunt from Fukushima is among the missing. Ji says she went sightseeing with a friend in Sendai and hasn't been seen since. "It is a very hard time," said Ji. Eric Butler, 29, moved to Japan in 2006 to work as an English teacher in the coastal city of Natori, one of the hardest hit cities. Butler organized a group called Foreigners From Miyagi. He has been working with the Sendai Friends and Family Link to nd out what's happening. Through social media, Butler has co-ordinated with those in Japan to locate the missing. The groups have been powered strictly by volunteer work to translate incoming reports. Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/City+fundraisers+pitch+Japan/4454574/ story.html#ixzz1GrjiFKlr