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Feed 86 families each week at the Sunday Shelf in Shinjuku

Help keep a free food pantry open for families facing hunger in Shinjuku.

🇯🇵 Japan1,717 views
Riku Toru Kudo
Email verifiedPhoto verified
Shinjuku
Since 2021, our volunteer team has run the Sunday Shelf every Saturday from the back of the old library basement. We started with 17 families, and now we feed 86 each week. Donations have dropped by about 45% this harvest gap, while the line has grown every single week. We rely on volunteers - 13 of us - and keep no salaries or overhead. I buy staples at wholesale prices at the Shinjuku market and keep every receipt. Each $20 feeds a family of four for a week. I'll post the weekly shopping receipts and a photo of the shelves each Sunday. Where the $2,250 goes: • Rice, beans, flour and oil (wholesale): $670 • Fresh vegetables and fruit: $960 • Baby formula and diapers: $370 • Refrigeration and electricity: $250 If you're reading this, thank you.

Updates from Riku

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  • Susana M. Castro 🇺🇸 · $200
  • Maverick Wright 🇺🇸 · $100

    “Hope the February deadline works out. - Hialeah”

  • Vinod D. Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 · $100

    “Be well. Thought of Riku all day after reading this. - Mumbai”

  • Anonymous 🇪🇸 · $75
  • Pedro T. Rojas 🇺🇸 · $64.50

    “Rooting for you. Been where you're, it gets better. - Akron”

  • Nina Alina Vinogradov 🇷🇺 · $62
  • Itzel J. Ochoa 🇲🇽 · $50
  • Renata E. Sandoval 🇲🇽 · $50
  • Iresha Kumarasinghe 🇱🇰 · $50
  • Anonymous 🇬🇧 · $50
  • Girma Gebre Haile 🇪🇹 · $50
  • Lidia Diana Bondar 🇷🇺 · $50
  • Qasim Haris Raza 🇵🇰 · $50
  • Yolanda L. García 🇺🇸 · $50

    “Wish I could do more. Only $50 but hope it helps. - Jacksonville”

  • Alp Barış Kaplan 🇹🇷 · $50
  • Melanie W. Estrada 🇬🇧 · $33.50

    “Happy to help. Thought of Riku all day after reading this.”

  • Manal Samira Mahmoud 🇪🇬 · $33

    “Every little bit. From 6th of October City with love. - 6th of October City”

  • Guilherme Thiago Mendes 🇧🇷 · $30
  • Vaibhav A. Jadhav 🇮🇳 · $25
  • Senthil M. Sivakumar 🇮🇳 · $25

    “Only $25 but hope it helps. - Siliguri”

Reviews

3.0(3 reviews)

Only people who gave to this need, or whose offer to help was accepted, can review it.

  • Swati J. Thakur🇺🇸Verified donor
    Exceptional service

    This helper is honest and transparent about what they can do. They didn't overpromise, but they did deliver excellent results. I would definitely trust them again.

  • Rohan R. Oberoi🇮🇳Verified donor
    Made a real difference

    The support I received was beyond what I expected. Not only did they help with the immediate need, but they also provided guidance for long-term solutions. I'm forever grateful.

  • Ellie Tillman🇨🇦Verified donor
    Honest and trustworthy

    I was going through a tough time and this person's support was invaluable. They didn't judge, just helped. That kind of genuine compassion is rare these days.

Questions & comments

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  • How is Riku doing now?

    • Wishing you peace. Hope the build day goes well, wish I lived closer. My husband and I read this together.

      • Is there a list of costs somewhere? Just curious how it adds up for Riku.

        • Riku Toru KudoOwnerAnswerPhoto verified

          It's all in the list in the story. rice, beans, flour and oil (wholesale) is the big one at $670, I'll post a receipt when it's paid. Let me know if you want more detail.

      • stay strong. Your post was clear and honest. Greetings from London.

        • Rooting for you. This could happen to any of us. My neighbor in Paarl donated after I showed her your page.

          • I hope things turn around soon. Thinking of Shinjuku.

            • Thinking of you, Riku. Looking forward to the next update. Love from Bergamo.

              • projects like this are what make a place worth living in. Don't be hard on yourself for asking. Greetings from Gulu

                • praying for you, Riku. This could happen to any of us. All the best.

                  • So sorry you're going through this, Riku. Shared it with a few friends.

                    $1,502.50 raised of $2,250

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