Second Harvest Japan Extends Deadline for Free Food Support Packages

Second Harvest Japan is extending the application deadline for its Free Food Support Package program. Victims of the Noto Peninsula earthquake and recent heavy rains in Oku Noto now have until January 31, 2025, to apply.

Second Harvest Japan (2HJ), which has been providing support to areas affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake and heavy rains in Oku Noto this year, has announced an extension of the application deadline for its “Food Support Package” project. Originally set to close on November 30, 2024, the new deadline is now January 31, 2025.

 

2HJ is providing free food packages weighing approximately 10kg, containing a variety of food items, to households living in temporary housing, rented accommodations, or those evacuating at home who are struggling financially while rebuilding their lives. Applications are being accepted in collaboration with the government and local organizations until the extended deadline. 2HJ plans to deliver cardboard boxes with the 2HJ logo (the photo below right) to 1,500 households. Each household will receive one box per month for three months.

<Examples of foods included in the Free Food Packages>
Staple foods: Rice, Packaged Rice, Noodles, Cup noodles, etc..
Side dishes: Retort foods, Canned foods, Instant soups, Dried foods, Hot pot soup, etc..
Condiments: Miso, Dressings, Salt, Sugar, Dashi stock, etc…
Snacks: Snacks, Chocolate, Jelly, etc…
Beverages: Tea bags, Barley tea, coffee, etc…

2HJ has so far shipped the packages to 511 households (as of December 10, 2024), and received messages from the recipients as follows: “I have felt anxious every day with my little kids, but the food we received makes us smile.”, “I am so happy to see the heartfelt food in a box which reminds me of a parcel from my mother in my old days.”, “There was more food than I expected such as the snacks for breaks, easy-to-cook ingredients, the rice which is hard to get now a days.”, and “While the supermarket nearby has been out of service, we were saved by the food received.”

 

In addition, the Nakanoto Base of 2HJ opened in March this year in Nakanoto-cho, Kashima-gun, Ishikawa Prefecture, a “hub” to provide support for disaster-stricken areas, continues to provide food to more than 20 disaster relief organizations and local organizations for interim support.

2HJ continues to expand its network with government and other stakeholders, and enhance the function of the Nakanoto Base in order to provide sufficient nutritious food to people in need of food assistance in the disaster-stricken areas.

2HJ implements “Food Support Package” project with the Japan Platform funding