Local Churches Gear Up for Japan Disaster Relief, See How You Can Help

A local church has already raised hundreds of dollars it will contribute to disaster relief in Japan and plans another collection this weekend as other churches gear up to prepare their responses to the devastation.

The took up an impromptu collection on Sunday to raise money for disaster aid to Japan, where a deadly earthquake and subsequent tsunami has killed thousands and set off a potential nuclear catastrophe that continues to unfold.

Pastor Tony Osimo of the church in the 100 block of East Foothill Boulevard said his congregation put together an unannounced collection on Sunday and raised $786.

"This was something that we did without letting people know ahead of time," Osimo said. "This was just something as part of our regular worship service."

The church isn't finished, either.

"We're planning on having another offering and letting people know that it's coming up and we'll be doing it again this Sunday," Osimo said.

The money is donated to the charity Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and goes directly toward aid efforts, Osimo said.

The church raised more than $3,000 with the last disaster relief collection it did to aid in disaster response in New Zealand, which it announced ahead of time.

A local group of ministers from 26 area churches will also soon consider their response to the disaster. The Monrovia-Arcadia Ministerial Alliance meets Wednesday and will discuss potential aid options, Pastor Dorothy Scott of the New Life Evangelistic Church said.

"It is something that we'll be looking at tomorrow," Scott said. "It certainly is a horrific situation. It is something that our hearts have been touched by."

The Red Cross, , is also accepting donations for Japan disaster aid.

The Red Cross makes it easy to donate: You can visit www.redcrossla.org to make your donation, or you can make a $10 donation by simply texting REDCROSS to 90999.

According to a statement released by Red Cross Los Angeles, nearly 1,900 people, mostly individuals living or working on boats, sought refuge in 22 Red Cross evacuation centers along the California coast that were opened as a result of the tsunami that occurred after the 8.9 earthquake in Japan.

The Red Cross Los Angeles is also hosting several fundraisers, including two on Tuesday:

• Tues., March 15, (5 a.m. to 7 p.m.), sponsored by NBC4 at Dodger Stadium
• Tues., March 15, (8 p.m.) Laugh Factory, STAND-UP FOR JAPAN
  comedy benefit starring Kevin Nealon

If you would like additional information on how to donate or volunteer, contact the Red Cross at 310-445-2685.

To make a donation through First Presbyterian, call 626-358-3297.

If you have other ways that Arcadians can assist in the relief effort, please let us know in the comments.