Unless you’ve been in complete hibernation, have no friends or are a complete waste of space, you’ve heard about the magnitude 9.0 earthquake that produced a devastating tsunami that hit northern Japan last Friday. The catastrophic natural occurrences took the lives of thousands of Japanese people and have left even more without food, water or shelter.

So what can you do to help? Well, the Kent State International Mentors has an online site, ksimonline.org, which has an account set up for donations. Their goal is to raise $1,000 to purchase a shelter box. Each box is made to help a family of 10 by providing shelter, food, clean water, blankets and other basic living necessities.

Google has a crisis response center online, where you can get a full, up-to-date report on Japan’s well-being, as well as donate money to American Red Cross, UNICEF and Save the Children funds. There are also postings for missing people and videos of the quake’s destruction.

The United States Agency for International Development suggests the most effective donation is cash. The agency explains in its website, usaid.gov, that cash, unlike in-kind donations can be used right away to buy the items needed on the disaster area. InterAction, the largest alliance of U.S.-based international non-governmental organizations, offers on its website, interaction.org, a list of agencies that are accepting donations for earthquake and tsunami relief.

If you are unable to make a cash donation, you can give some solace to the Japanese by sending messages of condolences or offers of assistance. To do such, the Japanese Embassy in the United States has set the following e-mail: [email protected]

Remember, any of us could some day find ourselves in an abrupt tragedy. Other countries helped when Hurricane Katrina hit and when our nation was paralyzed by the events of 9/11. Continue giving your support, and stay educated on Japan’s efforts of reconstruction and stabilization.