Japan relief reaches $6,000, fundraising continues
What started out as a student-run organization for families in Cache Valley has turned into a fundraiser relief program called STEPS to help the victims of the recent Japan earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power crisis.
As of Tuesday afternoon STEPS passed the $6,000 mark toward the $15,000 goal.
Wednesday and Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Logan’s Maximum Style Tec Cosmetology School will have students ready to cut or braid steps into students’ hair for $5 and hair cuts will cost $10. Jennifer Lee, a student at Maximum Style, said she volunteered her time because she has always loved Japan and their culture.
Keenan Nuehring, one of the students who started STEPS but is now working as an ASUSU liaison for the organization, said they have been working on STEPS for more than a year but weren’t planning on launching it until the fall. When the Japan disaster hit March 11, he said the group felt it was appropriate to speed things up so something could be done to help and have the USU Japan Club be involved as much as possible.
Chisato Yanagisawa, a sophomore and member of the Japan Club, said since there is nothing anyone from the Japan Club can do to help directly, a fundraiser that will go to the Red Cross was the best option. She said at first they wanted to send food and blankets but it was going to be too expensive. Instead, Yanagisawa said the club decided to put up donation jars around campus and booths in the TSC and library.
“We can’t do anything from here, but we felt very strongly about doing something, anything that we can do,” Yanagisawa said.
Each “step” in STEPS represents something different, Nuehring said. The first step is relieving financial burdens, the second is educating community and third is unifying the community. He said it is a great way to raise awareness about what is going on.
Nuehring said the group aims to meet their goal by April 9 with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Japanese Red Cross. He said members of the organization are planning to go around to businesses to ask for donations. Group member Jason Russell said some businesses have already approached them and asked how they can help.
Students involved with STEPS are also collecting money in the TSC. Matt Innes, a senior in liberal arts, said he isn’t having much luck getting people to donate.
“I understand that it is a hassle for people to open up their backpacks for money. A few people have been generous but of course we are hoping for more,” Innes said.
Innes served an LDS mission in Tokyo, Japan in 2008, and his connection to the Japanese people makes this disaster “heartbreaking,” he said.
“This is such a developed country, it really hits home to what can happen,” Innes said.
On April 9, STEPS will be holding an event called “Peanut Butter and Japan Jam” to reach their goal. Nuehring said it will be “carnival style” with local bands and games. Advertising for the event will go out to the whole community. He said they are advertising in elementary and middle schools to try to appeal to as many people as possible. Entrance will be $5 and there will be more opportunities to donate throughout the day.
Nuehring also said STEPS is working with the Logan School District to figure out how high school students can be involved. He said they are meeting with the high school student body officers to go over some ideas.
“We want them to come up with the ideas because we feel like if they are the ones with the idea, they will support it more,” Nuehring said.
There are big plans for the future of STEPS, Nuehring said, and eventually they want to have three separate divisions of the organization: local, national and international.
– megan.b@aggiemail.usu.edu