Why you should donate to Japan

I have seen a lot of blog entries and twitter remarks stating that we should all donate to Japan. But how do we know that all those people begging us to donate have donated themselves? In reality the unfortunate likelihood is that they have not donated and are just trying to make themselves feel better by telling others to donate. Well I did donate, so this is why I feel like I can talk about this without any guilt.

A lot of people also didn't donate when tragedy struck Haiti. Maybe you felt like you don't know anyone in Haiti or from Haiti. That's NOT the case with Japan. We all know someone that lives in Japan, has studied in Japan, or their family is from Japan. If not, you have eaten at a Japanese restaurant and talk to your waiter who probably has family in Japan that were affected by the earthquake and tsunami. Donate to help their families and friends to make it through this horrible time. Donate because you love your local Japanese restaurant and want to help them. 

If you need more incentive to donate, if you donate $50 or more and show that you did to Dirk Hayhurst, a pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays, I believe by tomorrow (March 14), he will personally call you via Skype to thank you for donating and who knows what else he may throw in. Dirk Hayhurst or http://www.twitter.com/thegarfoose is the author of one of my favorite books ever, The Bullpen Gospels which you should buy and read because it's all about life in the minor leagues. 

$50. You say that's a lot? Think of it almost like Lent and give up something. Drink a lot of Starbucks? Give it up for a week and save all the money from that and donate it to Japan instead. Eat out a lot? Decide to eat dinner at home every day for a couple of weeks and use that money instead to go to Japan. You really don't have to make that much of a sacrifice. 

I hope that this helps you to go ahead and make the decision to donate money to Japan. Even if you cant donate $50 or more to get that thank you from Dirk, donate whatever you can because they need it right now more than you probably do.

Please just donate whatever you can. Every little bit helps.