To Those Living in Temporary Houses in Fukushima Prefecture
Association for Aid and Relief, Japan (AAR JAPAN), in collaboration with Rokkatei Confectionery Co. Ltd., a renowned sweets maker, is currently presenting its “Magokoro Campaign (literally meaning true heart campaign),” in which chocolate boxes are sent to those affected by the disaster. Messages of encouragement are sent along with the chocolate. If you purchase this chocolate (500 yen per box) from AAR JAPAN, we will make sure it is delivered to someone in the disaster area who would very much value such a gift. Up until now, we have delivered a total of 896 boxes to those affected living in Iitate Town and Soma City in Fukushima Prefecture.
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January 18th, 2012- We attached warm messages to the chocolate boxes. The children were very happy to receive chocolate, and told us they were “Super good!” (City Welfare Center (Hamanasu-kan) of Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture) |
On January 18th, 2012, as the City Welfare Center (Hamanasu-kan) in Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture, we delivered chocolate boxes with messages to approximately 230 families living in temporary houses. One mother was found herself in tears from receiving a message that read “You are not alone, because there is always someone looking after you.” Reading the message over and over, she told us that such messages give her courage. There were also families that were jovially comparing messages with each other, asking “What kind of message did you get? Want to see mine?” There is also a separate episode where we delivered the chocolate to an elderly woman in her seventies who lost her family in the tsunami. We remember she broke down in tears at her front door as she received the gift, saying “Someone I’ve never met before is trying to help me.” People who are living in temporary houses have either lost their houses in the tsunami or were forced to evacuate their homes because they were too close to the nuclear power plants. So many of them have lost so much, and we were reminded of how much it means to them to receive heart-warming messages from strangers. We feel the power of words every time we make a delivery.
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January 18th, 2012- Those that received the chocolate boxes and the messages were all smiles. (City Welfare Center (Hamanasu-kan) in Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture) |
Ecstatic Children Say, ”These Chocolates are Great!”
The chocolate come in 6 flavors: raspberry, maple, black tea, mango, passion fruit, and green tea). They are popular among the children precisely because of its variety in flavors. The children looked very happy with sweets in their hands, and told us “These chocolate are great!”
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January 18th, 2012- “What flavor is this color?” asks a boy about each and every color. (City Welfare Center (Hamanasu-kan) in Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture) |
Ekuko YOKOYAMA, AAR JAPAN
From Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture. Served in the Health Group of the Self Defense Navy for 4 years. Visited various countries during college, and participated in mine removal in Cambodia, while helping an organization serving Agent Orange victims in Vietnam. Joined AAR JAPAN after the earthquake in Japan in 2011. Currently assigned to Soma Follower Team (a separate NPO).AAR JAPAN will ensure that your support reaches earthquake and tsunami survivors.
