Supplies donated by Kawasaki residents get distributed to disaster victims/Kawasaki

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1203100023/

March 10, 2012

At a provisions event, many of the evacuees residing in Kawasaki City come for aid=Kawasaki's Takatsu Ward

For victims of the East Japanese disaster, those who evacuated to Kawasaki city were the focus of donated goods event on the 10th, held in the city's Takatsu ward. Items at the event were donated by both citizens and various businesses. One of the evacuees said "We want to thank everyone for their good intentions."

Sponsored by the city, this is the second event since November of last year. Approaching a year since the earthquake, this project aimed to once again deliver support to the refugees.

Requests for donations began in February, from which enough supplies were gathered to fill 6 2-ton moving trucks. The focus was on getting basic living supplies such as paper diapers, wet tissues, detergent and batteries. Also collected were cooking items such as water, rice, tanks of water and also clothes and food utensils.

350 registered evacuee households within the city were sent letters of invitation. By 11:30AM, 60 families showed up, receiving bags full of essential supplies.

After having had their house in Kesennume City, Miyagi prefecture swept away by the tsunami, a couple evacuated to the Tama ward of Kawasaki city. Kikuta Sakiko (Age 63) commented "In the year we've been here, we've often been helped in various ways. In 2-3 years we hope to return home. No matter what happens, we smile, wishing to keep looking ahead as we take each step forward."

Original text:

避難者に市民ら寄贈の物資配布/川崎

2012年3月10日

川崎市内に避難している多くの被災者が訪れた支援物資の提供会＝同市高津区

東日本大震災の被災者で、川崎市内に避難している人を対象とした支援物資の提供会が10日、同市高津区内で開かれた。用意された物品は、いずれも市民や企業から寄せられたもの。避難者は「皆さんの善意に感謝したい」と話していた。

市の主催で、昨年11月に続いて２回目。震災から１年を迎えるにあたり、避難者にエールの気持ちを届けようと再び企画した。

２月に寄贈を呼び掛けたところ、集まった物資は２トントラックで６台分。紙おむつやウエットティッシュ、洗剤、乾電池などの生活用品をはじめ、水や米、おかゆなどの食料品、衣類や食器などが寄せられた。

市は、登録のある約３５０世帯の避難者に案内状を送付。午前11時半までに約60世帯が訪れ、紙袋いっぱいに必要な品を詰め込んでいった。

宮城県気仙沼市の自宅が津波で流され、娘夫婦のいる川崎市多摩区に避難している菊田咲子さん（63）は「種類もいっぱいあって助かります。この１年はあっという間。２～３年後には戻りたい。いつでも笑顔で、一歩一歩前を向いて進んでいきたい」と話していた。