From Your Home to Their Shelter

We on the Socks for Japan team are spending almost all of our time processing socks or distributing them, which leaves few hours per week for emailing confirmations that we’ve received packages and writing reports on our distributions. Just before going to bed ahead of another early-morning departure, however, I’d like to escort you to the end of our camera lens where you and others who’ve supported this effort can see what a wonderful gesture you’ve made.

In places where neighborhood streets have become this:

people now live in shelters like this:

and get their meals like this:

and hear funeral announcements like this:

You send socks and care letters that look like this:

We drive north early on a road like this:

in a van like this:

that’s packed like this:

and unloaded like this:

to create a thousand blossoms of joy like these:

As of 9 pm Monday (8 am EDT), we’ve processed 21,974 pairs of socks from around the world, and distributed 10,074 pairs with letters in moments like the ones shown above. By this time tomorrow, we’ll have distributed 12,274 pairs. Thank you to everybody who’s helping us. There are many more feet and hearts to warm!

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29 Comments

  1. Posted April 14, 2011 at 2:22 am | Permalink

    Your efforts for this project are staggering! Thanks SO much for all your work – the photos are wonderful! I sent a hand knit pair of socks out in the mail on 4/12/11 – hope they arrive soon and will provide a little bit of comfort and warmth for someone!!!!

  2. chris fondi
    Posted April 13, 2011 at 12:55 am | Permalink

    the students and staff at south butler primary school in saxonburg, pa. have been working hard collecting socks and writing notes. we are so happy to help. thank you for the wonderful and moving pictures here. we have sent three boxes so far and have at least four more ready to go. our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

  3. Posted April 11, 2011 at 10:04 pm | Permalink

    Dearest Jason – what a fabulous idea. Many many blessings to you for doing this! I’m collecting socks over the next couple of weeks here in Maine and will be sending them out with much love!!! Peace & Love, Kathie

  4. Alice Heckley
    Posted April 8, 2011 at 9:26 pm | Permalink

    The Elm Street School in Gardner, Massachusetts, USA have worked very hard collecting Socks for Japan. Yesterday we mailed out 5 boxes of socks, totaling 571 pairs. Thank you for providing an avenue for us to help. Hope everyone is doing well in Japan. We are thinking of you all!!

  5. Lynne Karle
    Posted April 8, 2011 at 5:01 am | Permalink

    Thank you for sharing these amazing & moving images! We are so happy to be helping. Our packages should arrive soon!

  6. Chin Ee
    Posted April 6, 2011 at 5:10 pm | Permalink

    It’s heart warming to see your updates of photos. All of you are really great people!
    Thanks for giving us this opportunity to help in our small way. Saw the update from the DHL website, the socks that we sent hv been delivered to your office. thanks and take care

  7. Kathy Goff
    Posted April 6, 2011 at 12:34 am | Permalink

    I was recently laid off my job, but when I saw the faces in need, I had to help. Hopefully you have received my box of socks by now. If I can do more I will. Much love…:)

  8. Raquel Fotheringham
    Posted April 5, 2011 at 8:52 pm | Permalink

    I was deeply moved to tears….in those pictures I saw my Japanese students, my friends my neighbor….My heart and life were transformed by these wonderful people 20 years ago when I taught in Japan for two years. It is a beautiful act of LOVE and KINDNESS that so many of you are doing for others. YOU GIVE ME HOPE…YOU MAKE ME WANT TO BE A BETTER HUMAN BEING! THANK YOU ALL!!

    Raquel Fotheringham

  9. Sarah DuVal
    Posted April 5, 2011 at 9:54 am | Permalink

    Remember why we are doing this. A terrible disaster happens – and although usually there would be no chance we could do something directly, here is the opportunity, thanks to Jason and his core of volunteers. So we do, and VOILA, it actually works! We send a simple, non-expensive object to someone we’ve never met along with a sincere sentiment of concern and thanks to a group of people who are willing to do extra work to help us, then a person gets the object they really need along with a note telling them someone a long way distant from them that they’ve never met cares about them. We are truly lucky in helping them be a small bit luckier than they are currently. But aren’t we (all of us all over the world who have sent socks) all the more blessed not only because of Jason and the volunteers helping him but also because even if we’ve given only one pair of socks and a care note, we’ve possibly managed to give someone hope?

  10. Posted April 5, 2011 at 8:47 am | Permalink

    Love to see all of these smiles. It is especially poignant given the view of the roads and country side and the living conditions. I’m making small quilts. I hope to see some smiles. Those happy smiles really warm my heart. I guess I better get back to my sewing.

  11. Posted April 5, 2011 at 7:32 am | Permalink

    Seeing this brought tears to my eyes. I have collected over 200 pairs and the number is growing. I hope to send out at least 500 pairs this Friday!

  12. Posted April 5, 2011 at 6:56 am | Permalink

    Jason and team,
    Aloha and greetings from Hawaii. Your effort is clearly touching the lives of many in Japan. The greatest thing we can offer others is love. The action you are taking is love in motion. I pray you will be filled with wisdom, humility, and a servants heart as you continue your mission of helping the people of Japan. Thank you for being a great example.
    God is love!

  13. Kareti
    Posted April 5, 2011 at 4:54 am | Permalink

    you definitely helping the image of Good american single handed– keep up the good work.
    The joy of helping others is far greater than the effort itself.

  14. takuya
    Posted April 5, 2011 at 4:45 am | Permalink

    Thank you to my friend Stuart from new York who will send socks, too – soon 🙂

    He discovered this page ♥

    matta ne

    takuya

  15. takuya
    Posted April 5, 2011 at 4:42 am | Permalink

    Only can agree with the comment writers above :

    These pics are so wonderful – seeing these nyappy faces …

    Thank you again to all of you who do this great job and to all of the wonderful people who sent all these socks ♥

    Hoyo kara Doitsu

    takuya

  16. Dee glensor
    Posted April 5, 2011 at 2:32 am | Permalink

    Another large package coming your way by the end of this week. These pictures are wonderful! Please keep posting them. My team is thrilled to help out!

  17. Katrin
    Posted April 5, 2011 at 1:57 am | Permalink

    Thanks for the update, its good to hear that something is happening…

    I also sent some socks from Germany and I hope the mail is fast…

    *Katrin

  18. Judy Allswede
    Posted April 5, 2011 at 1:42 am | Permalink

    It is wonderful to see the “sock project” bring love & comfort to our Japanese friends at such a tragic moment in their lives. Thanks, Jason, for getting it started & seeing it through.
    Judy

  19. Posted April 5, 2011 at 1:24 am | Permalink

    Jason:

    Thank you so much for your hard work, not only distributing these gifts, but keeping everyone up to date. You and your team are the BEST! 🙂 Sincerely, Diane Davies

  20. Amy G.
    Posted April 5, 2011 at 1:04 am | Permalink

    Jason,

    Thank you so much for posting these photos. I love reading each of your blog posts from the field. It’s a small glimpse at conditions for survivors, much appreciated. Thank you!

  21. zelina tan
    Posted April 5, 2011 at 12:27 am | Permalink

    This is heart warming ! The least we can do to ease their sufferings.
    Unfortunately my Fedex shipment from Malaysia is still stuck in shipment in Sano pending customs:-( I hope you will get it ASAP!

  22. Ainslie French
    Posted April 5, 2011 at 12:18 am | Permalink

    Dear Jason,
    We sent off 455 pairs of socks and short letters from myself and colleagues here at the Centre of Italian Aerospace Research (CIRA) here in Southern Italy on Saturday. They should reach you later in the week.

    Congratulations to you and your team on a great effort.

    Tanti Saluti

    Ainslie French CIRA

  23. Posted April 5, 2011 at 12:06 am | Permalink

    What’s the address of the socks distribution point….so I know where to send them?ERW

    • Amy G.
      Posted April 5, 2011 at 12:51 am | Permalink

      Hello Earl,

      Please go to this page to see the address and full instructions for preparing your package –
      http://jasonkelly.com/helpjapan/

      Warmly,
      Amy

  24. Lorie McGraw
    Posted April 4, 2011 at 11:55 pm | Permalink

    Thank you for the update! Socks and letters will be in the mail tomorrow!

  25. Posted April 4, 2011 at 11:33 pm | Permalink

    Thank you for the update. So enjoy seeing the pictures and reading the story’s you post. It really makes this hit home back here in the states.

  26. Becky Moder
    Posted April 4, 2011 at 11:32 pm | Permalink

    More socks leaving for Japan tomorrow from Arizona (USA). Blessings. And don’t worry about email conformations at a time like this! You are an amazing team!

    Becky Capps

  27. Terri
    Posted April 4, 2011 at 11:12 pm | Permalink

    I’m so glad that Socks For Japan is still going strong in the mission to bring a little comfort and some friendly greetings to those people so devastated by the tsunami in Japan!! Thanks for keeping us all updated….and for putting smiles on our faces too!!!

  28. Petia
    Posted April 4, 2011 at 10:52 pm | Permalink

    My heart is exploding with joy reading this! Thank you. It’s so wonderful to see these smiling faces. Please keep posting more!!



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