News

Kiosks collecting donations for Japanese relief efforts

March 13, 2011

The Red Cross Society of the Republic of China announced Monday that it will work with two convenience store chains, 7-Eleven and Family Mart, to collect donations for relief efforts in tsunami-ravaged Japan.

According to Focus Taiwan, people who want to donate small amounts of money — ranging from NT$100 to NT$20,000 (or about US $3.39-$677) — can use electronic kiosks in the stores of the two chains.

The Taiwan Fund for Children and Families has also launched a fund-raising drive, in part to recognize Japan's assistance to Taiwan in the past.

Wang Ming-jen, the group's executive director, said that in the wake of a devastating quake that hit central Taiwan on Sept. 21, 1999, Japanese groups, such as Childfund Japan, not only donated money but sent officials several times to express their concern.

"In appreciation of the helping hand of Japanese groups, we want to do the same thing for them," Wang said.

The money collected will be sent to Childfund Japan and related welfare groups to help children in the areas hardest hit by Friday's magnitude 9.0 earthquake and the massive tsunami it triggered, as well as provide other long-term care and assistance