The Fruit Tree Project Kesennuma, Miyagi

International (US tax deductible) donations are now being accepted online thanks to Second Harvest Japan!!! Please donate through our Virtual Food Drive today!

April 26, 2011 *UPDATE*

First off, A BIG THANKS to everyone for all the support and well wishes throughout this whole process.  These past few weeks have been a bit crazy, and we can’t thank everyone enough for working to make this project a reality. Right now, we have somewhere between 400,000 – 500,000yen!  Which is amazing!  Donations are still coming in daily, even though we have not reached the original goal of over 1,000,000yen, it is so nice to see donations and support coming from all over the world.

Some quick updates from the shelter.  School has started back up, so people have been moved from the classrooms to the gymnasium.  The shelter has also decreased in size, which is great news because people are settling into more permanent housing.  The 3 shelters combined consist of about 930 people compared to 1,100 people during our first visit.  We are planning to deliver fruit everyday until the money runs out.  After the fruit has been delivered for the day, we are planning on volunteering somewhere in or around Kesennuma.  We have also been given permission to do some fun activities with the kiddos at the shelters, so bring your best game ideas from elementary school!

Though these past weeks have been a bit hectic, volunteerAKITA has been accomplishing so much!  The relief trip this past Sunday to Miyako, Iwate was a huge success, while donations for The Fruit Tree Project continue to grow daily.

THANKS again for all the support and love from all over the world.

April 13, 2011 *UPDATE*

昨日、気仙沼小学校で働いている方と電話で少しお話ししました。現在の状況は以前私たちが伺ったときとほとんど変わらず、このところ届く食料はパンだけだそうです。

私たちのフルーツツリープロジェクトの話をすると、大変喜んでいらっしゃいました。ぜひお願いします！ありがとうございます！すみませんと何回もおっしゃっていました。
私たちは必ずこのプロジェクトを成功させなければいけません！今後ともみなさまのご支援よろしくお願い致します。

Hey folks, this is the funds proposal I have been sending out in hopes of receiving funding to get this project rolling.  Please take a look and definitely get back to me with your thoughts/opinions. Also feel free to pass it along to anyone who might be interested in supporting this project.  10 days you might ask?  Well, plain and simple, it would be very difficult to sustain this project long term, considering how grassroots our efforts are at this moment. BUT, this project will raise awareness of this issue and hopefully set an example and challenge larger organizations and government programs to continue to provide fruits!!! Minami and I were SHOCKED when we found out that there was a wholesale fruit market in Kesennuma with an abundance of fruit, yet people in shelters were not receiving anything!  This has to change.  Kesennuma isn’t the only town either! Many reports from other shelters and devastation areas are coming back saying the same thing, WE NEED FRUIT!  The Fruit Tree Project will be as successful as funds allow! So please spread the word, and let’s start making moves!

フルーツツリープロジェクト(The Fruit Tree Project）

発案：ポール ユー

日本語著：石川　南

前回の気仙沼小学校への物資運搬トリップで、その避難所で働いている方にお話を聞く機会がありました。気仙沼小学校はすぐ隣に気仙沼中学校と市民会館があり、現在すべてが避難所となっています。合わせて約1100人の方が避難しておられます。毎日の食事は自衛隊が炊き出しを行っていますが、食事はほとんどがごはんとみそ汁のみ。かなり偏った栄養バランスになっています。避難所では調理することが難しく、保存場所もありません。今何が一番欲しいですか？と質問したら、答えは「フルーツ」でした。

プロジェクトの目的

ゴールデンウィークの10日間(4月29日～5月8日)を利用し、毎日新鮮なフルーツを気仙沼小学校へ届ける。

一人一日２個ずつ行き渡るようにする。

コスト

価格は平均価格で計算。合計は1,100人、一人一人にそれぞれ1つずつ割り当てた計算。

りんご1箱(約70個)＝約4,000円　合計16箱＝64,000円

バナナ1箱(約60本)＝約2,500円　合計18箱＝45,000円

オレンジ1袋(約5個)＝約300円　合計220袋＝66,000円

よって、1日にりんごとバナナを全員に配るとすると、1日約109,000円のコストがかかることになる。10日間で合計約1,090,000円の費用が必要とされる。

プロジェクトに必要なこと

大量のフルーツを購入する為のルートはすでに準備が出来ているので、現在必要なのは費用を集めることである。

費用はvolunteerAKITAのサイトを通して寄付金を募る。

このプロジェクトを実現させるのには莫大な費用がかかる為一見難しそうに見えますが、細かく分けてみてみると1,000円の寄付で一人分(1日フルーツ２つ、10日分)を補えることがわかります。少しずつでも多くの方にご協力して頂くことが出来たらこのプロジェクトは必ず成功させることが出来ます。volunteerAKITAを通して寄付して頂いたお金はすべてこのプロジェクトの為に使われ、必要としている方々のもとへ届きます。

また、このプロジェクトをリードし、成功させることでフルーツツリープロジェクトの輪を広げていきたいと考えています。気仙沼小学校だけではなく、多数ある他の避難所も同じような状況にあると思われます。一人ですべての避難所をサポートするのは不可能です。私たちに続き多くの人にこのプロジェクトを実行して頂き、なるべくたくさんの避難所で生活している方々に、少しでも多くのフルーツを届けることが目標です。

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Hello, my name is Paul Yoo and I am a current JET in Yurihonjo, Akita.  In wake of the recent disaster, we, in Akita, have actively been involved in the relief efforts and are doing our best to contribute in this time of need.  The Fruit Tree Project spawned from our trip down to Kesennuma last week to drop off supplies.  While at the shelter we had the opportunity to talk about what their needs were, and FRESH FRUIT was their unanimous answer.  After leaving the shelter we contacted a local store manager who agreed to help us in our efforts, and offered to make orders for us from his wholesale fruit provider (located in Kesennuma!!!).  He assured us that all of our orders could be accommodated for as long as we placed them the day before.  The details for this plan are SET.  The only thing we need now is funding.  It is heart-breaking to know that the people aren’t able to get what they need, especially with a source so close to them.  We have to change this.  Right now, the shelter we are in contact with, accommodates 1100 people and receives prepared meals from the Japanese military.  They get a bowl of rice and miso soup.  For this first project, our goal is to establish the infrastructure it takes to get fresh fruits into the shelters, while also raising awareness of this issue.  Our hope is that others, who are looking to make a difference, will continue the Fruit Tree Project in other cities and towns effected by the disaster.

Timeline/Goals:  We want to take advantage of Golden Week and head down to Kesennuma for 10 days (April 29th – May 8th) making multiple deliveries per day.  Our goal for this mission is to first and foremost get fruits into the shelters.  Second, is to raise awareness of this issue so others can follow our lead and continue the Fruit Tree Project throughout the devastated areas.

Projected Costs:  Please note, although we are getting wholesale prices, the projected costs are based upon averages (fruit prices fluctuate daily)

~70 apples/box = ~4000yen
1,100 people/70 apples = ~16 boxes = 64,000yen (per day)

~60 bananas/box = ~2,500yen
1,100 people/60 bananas = ~18 boxes = 45,000yen (per day)

~5 oranges/pack = 300yen
1,100 people/5 oranges = 220 packs = 66,000yen (per day)

The goal is to supply each person in the shelter with 2 fruits per day for 10 days (ex:) one apple and one banana (for each person) = 109,000yen/day x 10days = 1,090,000yen

What we need:  The only thing holding us back right now is funding.  The fruit supplier is set, as well as transportation/gasoline/delivery logistics.

How you can donate:  People in Japan can donate through bank transfers (furikomi), a bank account has been set up specifically for this initiative.  ALL donated funds will go towards purchasing fruit for this project.  Those outside of Japan can donate online (US tax deductible) thanks to Second Harvest Japan.  Please refer to the website (volunteerakita.wordpress.com) under the “Donate” section for detailed instructions on donating.

Summary:  This project is important to me as a JET because THIS is our community!  Once we settle into our new jobs and towns here in Japan, we become part of the community, and right now Japan has come together as one community.  And this includes us!  We realize it will take a significant amount of money to make this project happen, but when you break it down, a 1000 yen donation could provide 1 person with 2 fruits daily, for 10 consecutive days.  Every little bit counts, and we will guarantee that all funds donated to this project will DIRECTLY benefit the people in need.

– Paul and Minami

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