Wednesday, June 27, 2007
2HJ participates in supporter Nu Skin Japan’s Force for Good Day
On June 13, Second Harvest Japan Executive Director Charles McJilton and Resource Coordinator Yusuke Wada participated in an event called the “Force for Good Day,” held by one of our major financial supporters, Nu Skin Japan. Most of our supporter companies seek not only to contribute funds, but to get their entire organizations involved through social awareness raising and volunteering. The two 2HJ staff members gave presentations to Nu Skin Japan distributors and employees throughout the day, focusing on 2HJ’s daily operations. The presentations were met with enthusiastic questions and received a positive reception. 2HJ gladly visits companies, schools, and other organizations to give presentations on food banking.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Nu Skin Japan Shares Time and Money
“I first heard of Second Harvest Japan about three years ago when I was having a meal at Fujimamas restaurant,” recalls Robert S. Conlee, president of Nu Skin Japan, part of an international company specializing in personal care products and nutritional supplements. In 2004, Fujimamas—a long-time 2HJ supporter—was giving patrons a little meal-time education with chopstick wrappers featuring information about hunger in Japan and 2HJ. “I thought, ‘What a great idea!’ I took my wrapper with me and looked at it from time to time as it sat on my desk. So I was already familiar with 2HJ when I met Charles [McJilton, 2HJ Executive Director] while doing a service project with my kids through the American School in Japan.”
“Our social contribution activities focus on creating a better world for children, and 2HJ fits that profile well,” said Conlee one Saturday afternoon in Ueno Park after lending a hand at the soup kitchen with some colleagues. He noted the majority of 2HJ’s food goes to women’s shelters, orphanages, and families, with only around 20 percent going to the homeless. “2HJ is one of three groups we work with here, the other major one being Hokkaido University for research on a genetically-transmitted skin disorder that afflicts children,” explained Conlee.
“Being involved with Nu Skin, I’ve come to feel that charitable activities are part of daily life,” says Nu Skin Japan’s Mika Yamada, who coordinates the company’s relations with 2HJ and has volunteered several times. “That’s because such a great number of the people I deal with are making sincere efforts every day to practice the ‘Force for Good’ philosophy of enriching the lives of people connected to our company and its products.” Nu Skin Japan’s Force for Good Fund recently provided 2HJ a grant of 18 million yen (monthly 1.5 million yen).
In addition to making financial contributions, employees and distributors are encouraged to contribute their time to help 2HJ provide food to those who need it in Japan. After helping to serve over 500 meals one Saturday in February, Courtland Pearson, another Nu Skin Japan volunteer, said the experience “makes you feel grateful for people who care, and makes you realize the world needs more people who care.” Companies like Nu Skin Japan make a positive impact in their communities. As Yamada says, every contribution is important: “Each person has only a limited power, but when you combine that power, you can make a big difference. Since learning about Second Harvest Japan’s activities, I feel that just by knowing the current situation, you can make the first step.”
A group from Nu Skin Japan provided service with a smile for Ueno Park distribution. “Even though I live in Tokyo, this was the first time I’ve done something like this. It was a great experience,” said Akemi Yoshida, a Nu Skin Japan distributor.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Financial Assistance from Nu Skin Japan helps 2HJ Expand Programs
Download full press release here. Summary follows.
Tokyo, 20 December 2006 – Second Harvest Japan, a unique non-profit corporation operating a food bank system, has announced that it has received a grant of 18 million yen (monthly 1.5 million yen) from Nu Skin Japan’s “Force for Good Fund”. With this grant, Second Harvest Japan will be able to further energize and expand its food assistance programs to help provide food to the needy throughout Japan.
Charles McJilton, Executive Director of Second Harvest Japan, commented: “We are profoundly grateful for the understanding and continued assistance of Nu Skin Japan. We are painfully aware of the reality that a vast amount of perfectly good food is thrown away when there are many living amongst us who are in need. Second Harvest Japan will fully utilize the grant and continue working to reinforce the infrastructure and enhance its food assistance program in order to better serve those in need.”
Media Inquiries:
Gavin Anderson & Company
Tel. 03-5404-0640
John Short, Yianoula Morris
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Heinz Japan: Three years and counting food donor to Second Harvest Japan
It was the summer of 2003. On his way home, Paul Mori, a director of Heinz Japan Ltd., saw the words “Food Bank” on a van parked on the side of the road. An Internet search at home led him to the web site for Food Bank Japan (Second Harvest Japan’s name until late 2004), through which he would later contact Executive Director Charles McJilton.
“In my country, America, it’s the norm for big food companies to cooperate with food banks. I had been wondering why such activities didn’t exist in Japan, and I just happened to see the van,” explains Paul. He quickly brought the matter up with management and Heinz Japan decided to start donating excess inventory.
Although the company is best known for its familiar bottles of ketchup and specialty cooking products like its demi-glace sauce, the monthly average of 350 kg of food products Heinz Japan has been donating to Second Harvest Japan includes a wide variety of soups and soup bases, curry, and even frozen products.
“As an example of our situation, we need to provide products to our clients with a certain number of days remaining before expiration, so we have to dispose of items that are still perfectly edible, but are not saleable. Making food with the goal that people will enjoy it only to have that food thrown away is the most painful thing for someone working in a food company,” says Heinz Japan Chairman, President, and CEO Sergio Sousa. The food that used to go to waste now helps people who need it. On top of that, because the company saves on the cost of storage and disposal, “Everyone ends up happy.”
Sousa, who spent a long time working in several countries in Africa, feels deep concern for the problems of food security. Recently, he volunteered with Second Harvest Japan, helping to deliver vegetables, juice, and other items to a children’s care facility. For the future, Sousa would like to set up a program through which all Heinz Japan employees could volunteer once a month.
Heinz Japan Chairman, President, and CEO Sergio Sousa volunteers with 2HJ Resource Coordinator, Yusuke Wada
“In Portugal, where I come from, food banking is very active, as in America. The tax system and the corporate system support the volunteer organizations; the result is two meals per day on the tables of 220,000 people—365 days a year,” says Sousa. “In this, Portugal far exceeds Japan. While Japan rushes to extend a helping hand when a disaster happens overseas, aren’t the problems of the needy here within the country going unnoticed?”
From a happenstance encounter with a parked Second Harvest Japan vehicle to a firm relationship based upon commitment with action, Heinz Japan has demonstrated that food need not go to waste and that you, the individual, and you the company can make all the difference and thereby make this a better world.
Writer: Etsuko Ohara
Link to News story »
Monday, November 13, 2006
Show your support with a 2HJ magnet!
Stick it on your car, your fridge at work or home, or anything else made of metal! These ribbon-shaped magnets communicate our shared mission of “Food for All People.”
Available through 2HJ for 1000 yen (small magnet) or 1500 yen (large magnet). You can also pick them up at outlets including Sony Plaza and Autobacs!
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