New Coronavirus relief fund to support children and medical workers

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic poses a great threat to every nation. On April 27, Nippon Foundation, a non-profit Japanese grant-making organization, set up the Love Pocket Fund in collaboration with music group Atarashii Chizu (“New Map” in English). This fund supports children in need, as well as medical institutions, medical professionals and volunteers currently on the frontline combating COVID-19.

The initiative originated with the Nippon Foundation, which anticipated that the prolonged effects of the pandemic would increase the need for support in Japan. The foundation is currently working to build new coronavirus care facilities. These include the one at the Museum of Maritime Science in Odaiba, Tokyo, in preparation for a potential increase in infections. The foundation has been asking for donations since early April to support the activities of frontline medical professionals and volunteers who would be working in these emergency facilities.

Atarashii Chizu was planning to set up a fund for women, children and elderly people, as well as regional development in Japan by spring this year. However, due to the widespread impact of COVID-19 in Japan, they decided to shift their focus towards pandemic relief. The group donated 30 million yen (about 282,240 USD) to the Love Pocket Fund.

The Love Pocket Fund aims to respond to the spread of the virus with the following measures for children and medical institutions.

1. Provide meals for children facing school closure to alleviate the financial burden on households.
2. Provide care and support for children of households with single parents who tested positive for COVID-19.
3. Provide tablets and Wi-Fi routers to foster families so that they can keep connected with child social workers.
4. Provide supplies and support for doctors, nurses, hospital chefs and cleaners who would work at the new facility in Odaiba.
5. Provide supplies to visiting nurses.
6. Provide meals to medical professionals.

Chairman of the foundation, Yohei Sasakawa, says that all donations received will be put towards these relief measures. The donations can be made online or by bank transfer until September 30.