Operation : Senbazuru of Hope

I've been so busy this past week getting ready for the big day! Operation Senbazuru of Hope - 1,000 Cranes for Japan is underway and we have already made hundreds of cranes.

The community support and efforts for this non-fundraising relief effort for

Japan has been wonderful. The grand finale will be on Tuesday, May 3rd when people and kids from all over Big Bear are coming together to make cranes, write messages of hope and string the senbazuru. Then, the package of love and prayer will be shipped directly to people who survived the earthquake and tsunami.

It is going to be an amazing day!

Amikami Japan Disaster Relief Fundraising UPDATE .... and more!

Elementary school children together for the
first time since the March 11 earthquake.
(AP Photo/Yomiuri Shimbun, Miho Ikeya)

I can't believe it, but I have just received enough bracelet orders to exceed the $1,000 donation goal! But I've decided I'm not stopping now, and I am not making any more goals ... the sky's the limit!

I've been so deeply touched and encouraged by the phenomenal response I've received since I began my fundraising efforts. I'm am also so inspired by outpouring of support all over to help Japan in this desperate time.

I am currently working on a new Japan project, but not a fundraiser this time. I am working with my friends, students and community in the small town where I live in to make 1,000 cranes to send to Japan. I'm not certain of who the recipients will be exactly, but I'd like to send them to a school I recently read about - Okawa Elementary.

This small school was in a town completely destroyed by the tsunami. Only 34 of the 108 students and 1 teacher out of 12 survived. The school year is beginning in Japan and on April 21, the remaining students will be using classrooms in another school to start their year as the rest of the country does. It made me so sad, but to think of their courage and strength to continue on is so inspiring. I would like to send them something to show them that even 5,000+ miles away, there are people thinking of them and praying for them.

I'll post more on this as it starts coming together. I have already had such an enormous response to this plan, I know it will be a wonderful thing!

Another donation made today!!!

I am so excited to announce that I made another donation to the Red Cross for Japan disaster relief today in the amount of $280!!

That means the total donations from the Japan relief bracelet sales is $520. Yes, that means I've met my goal .... but that was the OLD goal. New goal is $1,000 and I already have enough orders to put me well on the way of achieving that.

100% of the sale price of these bracelets are being donated to the Red Cross. The bracelets can be purchased through my Etsy shop at www.amikami.etsy.com.

Also would like to thank Shino for posting my Japan relief bracelet on her blog: http://beautifuladdiction-shino.blogspot.com/ where she is showcasing relief efforts and showing support to Japan. Beautiful!

Thanks to all for support of this cause and keep praying for Japan!