My in-laws’ home in Makinohara, Japan, was recently struck by a devastating typhoon that left it completely uninhabitable. The storm tore off most of the roof, allowing heavy rain to flood the second floor and cause extensive damage to the first. Powerful winds shattered the west-side windows, scattering debris through the rooms and destroying much of their furniture, their possessions, and doing heavy damage to the house’s structure. With the windows blown out, the interior was left exposed for days, inviting insects and other vermin to enter and further contaminate the living space.

My mother-in-law was inside when the typhoon hit and, miraculously, escaped unharmed. But my in-laws, both in their seventies and retired with no steady income, now face the daunting task of rebuilding with severely limited resources.

While my wife and I will contribute as much as we can, it will not be enough to cover the enormous cost of repairs. We are collecting donations in U.S. dollars and will personally handle the currency conversion so that, aside from GoFundMe’s standard fees, every contribution goes directly toward helping them rebuild.

Thank you so much for your time, and for any kindness and support you can offer.