Hundreds of people affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan have been streaming into three Bay Area USO centers, where volunteers have been working to help the disaster victims readjust to life.
USO of Northern California acting communications director Bryan Carmody said that more than 900 people arrived at Fairfield’s Travis Air Force Base today, with more victims expected to arrive on as many as 20 upcoming charter flights scheduled out of the base.
“Hundreds of evacuees from Japan will be coming through the three centers in the next couple of days, and we’re asking for donations and supplies to help them,” Carmody said.
He said that 210 volunteers have been working 1600 hours a month at the centers and are working overtime to care for the disaster victims but that they are in dire need of supplies.
The organization is requesting individually packaged non-perishable items and snacks, Carmody said, including bottled water, chips, cookies, sodas, paper plates, and toiletries. Canned donations were discouraged.
Carmody said the organization is accepting supplies or cash donations. Checks, he said, should be written to “USO of Northern California” and addressed to: the USO of Northern California, Terminal One, Mezzanine Level, San Francisco, CA 94128.
The USO of Northern California has three centers in the Bay Area one at the air force base, one at San Francisco International Airport, and one at Mineta San Jose International Airport.
More information can be found by visiting www.usonortherncalifornia.org.
Patricia Decker, Bay City News
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