Rotarians Rise to Occasion to Help Victims of Japan Earthquake

Fresh off his live demonstration of Japanese cooking at NHTV’s “Voices for Japan” telethon, Jonathan Martinek, a member of the North Haven Rotary Club, reported on his recent fundraiser held at his home in Cheshire.

In addition to Sapporo draft beer, the picnic allowed the sampling of various Japanese culinary treats native to Japan, which were prepared by Jonathan and his wife Sachiko, who was born in that country. Attended by club members, friends and neighbors, more than $1,300 was raised to help those devastated by the March 11 earthquake, the destructive tsunami that ensued, and the ever-growing nuclear plant problems in Japan. Martinek reported that “tens of thousands of people are living in tents.”

Added to the money collected through the telethon, as well as other donations, the total climbed to more than $4,300 toward the club’s ambitious $10,000 goal. In cooperation with CT’s Rotary District 7980, the funds have been designated for the purchase of two trucks needed to deliver food and medicine in hard hit areas.

When learning of the charitable drive, a friend of the Martineks in Japan wrote, “Wow, this email made me feel so warm. Japanese people really appreciate support from other countries, and I am also very much thankful for warm-hearted messages from my friends. You and Sachiko are really amazing. I am so proud that I am your friend! The situation in Tokyo has been much better than two months ago, and the water problem in Tokyo is over as well. But we still have to be very careful of electricity-consumption, and concerns over food safety still keep going on. But we have a much better situation than the people in Tohoku (northern area where tsunami hit) as we are still alive. The disaster taught me what the most important thing is in our life.”

Expressing his personal appreciation for the generosity expressed by so many, Martinek also thanked Whole Foods Market for donating water and soda for the picnic.

To donate to the cause, send a check to: “North Haven Rotary Club” P.O. Box 202, North Haven, CT 06473.