Steven Alan for charity

Normally I whole-heartedly support shopping-for-charity events, but in the wake of an actual disaster of this magnitude, I feel it's a bit... inappropriate. I don't know, I just feel like these events, like Haiti, Pakistan, and now Japan deserve our direct support.

But, if you need to buy stuff anyway, this is a fabulous reason to do so. Steven Alan is donating 15% of all sales (not just margins!) to the International Medical Corps to go towards the Japanese victims.

For other ways to donate, here's a short list I took from ABCNews.com. I also hate to be a cynic, but charities are big business, so I encourage you to research a non-profit to determine their efficiency with your money (some organizations pass on only half of what you donate, keeping half for 'operational expenses'). Charity Navigator is pretty good, and I've included their efficiency ratings below. They also have a list of organizations who are donating funds to Japan (with their ratings).

Save the Children: Emergency Relief for Japan Quake
www.savethechildren.org/japanquake
Toll free: 800-728-3843
Text JAPAN or 20222 to donate.
Efficiency: four stars out of four

The American Red Cross: Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief
www.redcross.org
Text REDCROSS or 90999 to make $10 donation by text message.
Efficiency: three stars out of four

Salvation Army
donate.salvationarmyusa.org
Toll free: 800-SAL-ARMY
Text QUAKE or 80888 to donate $10
Efficiency: unrated because it is a religious organization

International Medical Corps
www.internationalmedicalcorps.org
Text MED or 80888 to donate $10
Efficiency: four stars out of four

Doctors Without Borders
www.doctorswithoutborders.org
Efficiency: three stars out of four

Global Giving
www.globalgiving.org
Text JAPAN or 50555 to donate $10
Efficiency: three stars out of four

World Vision
www.worldvision.org
Toll Free: 888-56-CHILD Text 4JAPAN to 20222 to donate $10
Efficiency: four stars out of four