January 2004 - Homeless Clothing Donation Project - As I had spent last year teaching about global volunteering, I decided to bring a reminder to the students that there are community service opportunities close to home as well. We discussed the problems of homeless people in Japan and decided to collect winter clothing including warm jackets, hats, gloves, and scarves. Many students and teachers joined our efforts but the biggest donations came from Tatsuyama Jr. High School, Tatsuyama Kita Elementary School, and the staff at Seibu Kyoiku Jimusho. I helped distribute the clothing through a group of Brazilian volunteers in Hamamatsu.
January to March 2004 - At the same time, I started the SECOND ANNUAL CHILDREN'S CLOTHING DRIVE. Schools throughout the Seibu area participated. We received SOOO many clothes! A large box was sent to the orphanage in Northern Thailand with which I established an exchange the previous year. Another box was delivered to a large orphange in Vietnam (along with our stationary supply collections). Finally, two HUGE bags were delivered to the Philippines and were distributed among the 150 people living in the Banai Housing Area. |
