Important announcement about HANDS

Hi everybody,

I’ve received word that HANDS is going to stop volunteer dispatch on March 10th , 2012 until further notice. The reasons for this are both financial, as well as the changing roles volunteering may take.

This has been saddening news for me, but it’s not nearly as bad as it may seem at first.

First, HANDS is not ending.

The organization itself is finding a niche or niche(s) to better serve the coast. I will provide more information about that and volunteer opportunities when it comes out.

The regulars that go to the volunteer centers from Kitakami every weekend are basically going to dispatch ourselves. We’re going to carpool and give the drivers gas money, probably about 500 yen, which is the cost of a bowl of ramen or a beer. Not bad. You can come too! I will provide dates and information on when we’re going here.

Additionally, if you want to go to Kamaishi or Rikuzentakata volunteer center and volunteer by yourself, HANDS is still helping people register through the volunteer centers. Just give me an email at thomasanna85@gmail.com about when you’d like to go and I’ll pass it on.

IMPORTANT: Please note that everyone’s volunteer insurance should expire on March 31st! When you volunteer after April 1st, please sign up for volunteer insurance at your local social welfare council (社会福祉協議会). The type of insurance is 天災Ａタイプ, which costs 490 yen. If you need any help finding your local social welfare council or signing up, please let me know and I’ll do what I can.

Last, if you want to volunteer and would like to work with a nonprofit that can dispatch you, (for example, if you don't have a car or can’t take the train, or if you’d like a nonprofit that will give you a place to sleep for free during volunteering) I am going to introduce other local nonprofits that are dispatching volunteers daily on Facebook and on the English (unofficial) HANDS blog.

In short, it’s change, but it’s not necessarily bad change. HANDS is still HANDS. Friends are still friends. Volunteering is still necessary. Kato-san should be harrassed, and we should eat ice cream in Toono.