The Japanese Association of Tucson (JAT) (http://www.geocities.jp/jpntus/) is having a picnic/bake-craft-yard sale and disaster relief fundraiser (donation box) on Sunday April 10, 2011 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The March 11, 2011 earthquake (9.0 magnitude) and subsequent tsunami devastated northeastern Japan.

This event will be at Sushi Yukari, a Japanese restaurant at 5655 E. River Rd. # 151 in Tucson. The restaurant is on the NE corner of River and Craycroft.

Activities for children (i.e. face painting ,balloon creations, etc.) will also be offered.

Food (Yakisoba, Takoyaki, and Curry Rice) will be available for purchase. Drinks will be provided by the JAT. Otherwise no entrance fee to this event.

They will be collecting relief supplies for World Care (http://www.worldcare.org/index.html).

A previous fundraising event on March 19 netted over $10,000 to date. Photos at their Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=60510297352&v=photos, including photos of Japanese taiko drumming and bon dancing.

Email: jpnassoctucson@yahoo.co.jp.

For other upcoming fundraising events for Japan disaster relief, read my previous blog (click here).

Note: large 7.1 after-shock earthquake hit the same area of Japan on April 7. One of my friends send me this USGS link listing all earthquakes in the last 7 days:

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.php

event flyer for Red Cross

Please RSVP by April 9 (tomorrow) for either of 2 ceremonies, the 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. building dedication & open house, or the 5:30 to 7 p.m. annual meeting & volunteer recognition.

For more info & to RSVP online: www.redcrossarizona.org/welcomehome or call Caitlin Dixon at 520-318-6740, x 124. Parking on site or west of the building at Laff’s Comedy Club parking lot.

“Organized in 1916, the American Red Cross Southern Arizona Chapter serves more than 1.3 million residents in a five county area, including Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, and Santa Cruz counties. The chapter is headquartered in Tucson and offers a service center in Sierra Vista, Arizona.

Through the combined efforts of 500 volunteer staff and 20 paid staff, the Chapter provides services for disaster victims, health and safety instruction, and social services for members of the military and their families.”

Welcome home Red Cross! RSVP today.