Since Friday, the Internet community has been trying to help Japanese victims in any way they can after the tragic earthquake and tsunami. Let’s have a look at how YOU can be the next person to help.
1) Spread the word
Tweeting about the earthquake and the tsunami, sharing links on Facebook may seem little to you, but they mean a lot. By increasing awareness, your friends and followers will get interested. They will want to find out more. From there, the desire to get involved may start, from donating time to donating money. Even though we have metrics, we never fully realize the impact of our tweets and shares on people’s minds. It does not cost you a cent, so spread the word. On Twitter, don’t forget to use hashtags such as #prayforjapan.
2) Wear a Twibbon
You can find Twibbons for Japan all over the website.
Adding a Twibbon to your Twitter or Facebook account is very easy: all you need to do is find a twibbon that you like on the website and click “show my support now” for Twitter or connect your Facebook account to Twibbon for Facebook. Here again, it is free and you will raise awareness and interest for the cause.
3) Dog Bless You
Another free way of helping Japan is to like the page Dog Bless You. For each like, Explore will give $1 and up to $100,000 in total to the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation. If the page gets 100,000 likes by Sunday, March 13 at 2 a.m. EST, Explore will donate $200,000 instead.
4) Use your website
Ask people to get involved on your website. The best way is to do that is by installing Hello Bar, a great toolbar to grab your visitors’ attention. Instructions to install it on WordPress, Tumblr, Squarespace and Blogger are here. You can sign up for Hello Bar by using the invite code “helpjapan”.
Alternatively, you can run this script on your page. Just insert it in the <body> tag:
<script type=”text/javascript” src=”//www.hellobar.com/hellobar.js”></script>
<script type=”text/javascript”>
new HelloBar(1,9126);
</script>
<noscript>Help The Victims of the 8.9 Earthquake in Japan by Spreading Awareness and Aid. Visit http://goo.gl/wjZQz to donate.
</noscript>
5) Buy a tee-shirt
An original way to help is to buy a $28 tee-shirt from this website. 100% of the sales will go to the Japan Tsunami and Earthquake disaster relief efforts of the American Red Cross.
6) Buy an iTunes card
Apple set up a page where 100% of the price of your iTunes card will be donated to the American Red Cross. As far as I know, this only works in the US so far. If you are in the US or have a US iTunes account, click here to find the page and buy an iTunes card.
7) Buy a poster
Max Erdenberger, a designer at Wieden + Kennedy in Portland, Oregon, created a 40”x26” poster to help send Japan relief. You can choose how much you wish to donate in exchange for the poster, starting at $25.
8) Donate
US only
If you are in the US and wish to donate, here are some easy ways to donate by text:
The Red Cross: Text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation from your phone.
International Medical Corps: Text MED to 80888 to make a $10 donation.
Salvation Army: Text JAPAN or QUAKE to 80888 to make a $10 donation.
Save the Children: Text JAPAN or TSUNAMI to 20222 to make a $10 donation.
You can also check out Global Giving or Shelter Box among many others.
UK only
If you are in the UK, make sure to check Save The Children as they launched a £1 million appeal or The Red Cross to donate online.
If you have any more ideas of how to get involved originally, please leave a comment below!
Here is another way to get the word out. A dersigner from los angeles made a good concept direct mailer.
http://www.adverbox.com/ads/american-red-cross-help-japan/
I would donate or it would get my attention if i see this in my mailbox.
Thank you for this!! 🙂
I found new ways to help as well:
– Buy another great tee shirt: http://hideandseek.bigcartel.com/product/relief-tee
– Buy hygiene kits: http://cauzoom.com/projects/?pid=37
– SwipeGood: https://swipegood.com/charity/DRF/10dollars/
– Groupon: http://www.groupon.com/deals/international-medical-corps
– Like another page: http://dailynoodle.org/blog/?p=160
– In Canada: donate Airmiles: https://www.airmiles.ca/arrow/ProductTicketingDetails?productId=prod1283903
And I’m sure there are plenty more ways to help out online 🙂