Tacoma Community College’s international students were busy this week raising funds to send to earthquake- and tsunami-ravaged Japan via the American Red Cross. According to short-term International Programs Coordinator Annemarie Martin, a cohort of students from Tacoma Community College’s sister school, Kitykiushu University, participated in the fund-raising, which began March 11, when $1,033 was collected, and continued through today.

“In the first two days, we raised $2,600,” said student Kenji Sasakura. Their goal was to raise $10,000. By the end of the day Tuesday, they had raised $3,700. A local company has agreed to provide matching funds up to $5,000. The International Student Organization is helping with paperwork and financial details.

“The students — mostly Japanese students — have indicated how impressed they are with the generosity of the people at Tacoma Community College,” Martin told the college community in an e-mail Monday. “It has shown them how much we care, even though we live on the other side of the world and [with] the state of our economy.” She also noted that at the north end of campus, across the Japanese Bridge, the Japanese Friendship Garden has burst into premature bloom thanks to community members who are making spontaneous floral contributions in support for people who have lost friends and family in the disaster.

If you would like to contribute to the relief effort, students are staffing a donation table in Building 11 (just inside the main entrance) through Fri., March 18. You can also make a contribution to the fund in the cashiers office in Building 18.

For more information, visit http://www.tacomacc.edu/ .