I spotted two pairs of socks I sent in this photo: the hot-pink stripe and the light pink socks!
As you all probably know, besides donating money for tsunami relief efforts in Japan, I also sent 38 pairs of socks for men, women, and children, along with some handwritten letters and toiletry items, to a newly-formed organization that aims to distribute these items to the displaced victims housed in temporary shelters in the northern parts of Japan.
This morning, Socks for Japan shared their first experience making a delivery to a couple shelters located in Ibaraki, who had cited an urgent need for socks and specially requested them. The group also shared the photos they took of the destroyed towns and homes, damaged personal items, and the isolated survivors in the various shelters they visited.
From their account of the day:
Three ladies sat together on a blanket after receiving their socks, all three engrossed in reading the letters. They looked so happy and kept turning to each other to share what their letters said. They noticed us noticing them, and the eldest among them held her letter up and told us, “This is wonderful.”
Hand-writing 14 copies of this long letter took an awful long time…
But for the look on this woman’s face I would write 10,000 more.
It’s so amazing to be involved with a charity that actually does what it sets out to do, wholly and caringly – and provides an actual account of their work so there can be no misunderstandings about it. Perhaps I shall never learn the names of these people…but I am so glad to have brightened their day in even the smallest way.
The write-up is incredibly moving, and hopefully puts to rest any criticisms that socks are neither needed nor wanted.
Read the Full Account of the Socks Delivery Here
Thank you to Socks for Japan, who have allowed me to help in such a tiny way!
xoxox
Carly
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That is so wonderful! you are so multi-talentd: crafty and able to write japanese!! wow!! way to go!!! Thanks for sharing–great to see someone who has endured such a tradgedy smile. great job!
Thank you:-) Looking at that woman’s picture and seeing her expression made my year. To look at her, and see in her face all the things she has been through is just heart-wrenching. You can see that she has had a hard life, and I would have never known about her or been able to touch her life otherwise. I’m so honored to have been able to do so!
Nice work! Aside from giving money as a donation, material things are much needed for the victims, socks in particular. For the cold climate, socks are essential in giving warmth. Great Job!!
i just stumbled across your blog today and i’m so glad i did! socks for japan–i’ll be out shopping for socks tomorrow! how did you ship yours? usps in envelopes?
Hi Suzanne!
I’m so glad you came by to visit…and even gladder that you are planning on sending socks! 😀 As you can see, there is such a need for them there. I bundled each pair with a care letter in a ziplock bag, and then put all the bags with a certain type of sock in a padded mailing envelope and labeled it with “Men’s Socks sizes 6-11” or whatever, then stacked the envelopes inside a box and sent the box. USPS is the quickest and cheapest way – I sent mine Express and the box arrived in 5 days! (It was $70 for 7 lbs.) Check out http://jasonkelly/helpjapan for instructions on labeling & shipping…and don’t forget to write “Urgent: Relief Supplies” on your package or box!! Thank you so much for joining in; I’m so moved that you are going to do so…:-)
i checked out jason’s website and i’m sharing it with everyone i know. i’ll be sending out some socks via usps soon! just wanted to say you rock! and love your blog too 🙂
Thank you so much, Suzanne! That is so sweet of you – keep up the good work and spread the word!!:-)
How nice! What a great personal touch with the letters.
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What you have done is really truly awesome!! Its wonderful to see the expression on those smiling faces. You must feel so proud! If you don’t mind, may I please write about you and reblog this?? Thanks!
Of course, Zilebi – I would be honored. Thanks for helping to spread the word!!:-)
This is so beautiful and inspiring! I do this at christmas for the Shoebox Appeal but I definitely want to help with this <3 xx
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Thank you Shabna! If you are moved to pitch in and send some socks and a care letter – please do! There will be someone on the other end of your donation who will appreciate your kindness for months to come.:-)
this is unbelievably AMAZING!!!!!
Heh, my kanji hand is so bad, I suspect any letter I sent would be unreadable. And, yeah, I’m admitting to be a wordpro baka, but major kudos for writing that out, and all the little touches you put into your packages. So glad to see that you got so much personal feedback from the people who received your gifts.