Nine Chattanooga residents are currently in the heart of Sendai, Japan, offering tsunami and earthquake disaster relief in conjunction with R3 International.
"R3 International is really a network of willing volunteers who have training, experience and the skills needed as well as a strong belief that local churches and communities should lead the charge," said Brian McKeon, director of R3 International, who took the volunteers to the Chattanooga airport Thursday. "Everyone is a volunteer. No one gets paid. We're big friends of short-term response and long-term connections."
R3 International volunteers prepare to board the first of a series of planes that will carry them to tsunami-ravaged Sendai, Japan. From left are David Peck, Jackson Alexander, Jim Terney, Christy Righter and R3 International director Brian McKeon, who will coordinate efforts from Chattanooga.The volunteers in Japan are Highway 58 resident David Peck, Flintstone, Ga. residents Jim Terney, Tim English and Jenny English, Highland Park resident Nancy Carter, Southside resident Christy Righter and St. Elmo residents Jackson Alexander, Vincent Howard and Yukiko Howard. Half of the volunteers will remain for 11 days while the rest stay a full two weeks, doing anything from providing counseling to distributing food.
"We want to help the local churches be active in fulfilling the needs around them," said Peck, who has worked with R3 International before.
R3 International raised $20,000 to cover the cost of the volunteers' airfare as well as the cost of supplies like multi-use tools needed for building shelters in Japan. R3 International also arranged for a portion of the money to be given directly to relief organizations in Japan, which are struggling to supply basic necessities.
"This is my first trip with R3 International," said Alexander, who has friends that grew up in Japan and still have families there. "This is a good opportunity to serve. We'll be doing a little bit of whatever's needed, delivering supplies, setting up temporary shelters, clearing debris and cleaning homes."
Alexander said they all have radiation meters, but he isn't overly concerned about radiation since the group will be outside the marked danger zone. The volunteers will be lead by Yukiko Howard's parents, the Takatas, who will direct them to projects and people who need their support.
"It's important to be flexible, learn what the people want and try to help them - don't have an agenda because it's about what they need," said Terney, who has worked with hurricane relief in the United States.
McKeon said he isn't sure whether or not he will send additional volunteer groups to Japan. However, they will continue to raise funds for disaster relief organizations.
"There is a need there," said Righter, who lived in Nagano, Japan until she was 11 years old. "The people over there doing the work have asked for help and if we're willing and able, we should go over and do it."
R3 International was started by a group of active Chattanoogans at New City Fellowship. McKeon said they reached out first with earthquake relief in Haiti, building 50 transitional and permanent homes for the residents displaced by the disaster.