MaryJanesFarm Sends $4,485 to Japan Disaster Relief

Moscow-Pullman Daily News, April 2, 2011

MaryJanesFarm, the Moscow-based organic lifestyle outfitter, donated 20% of all sales for the week of March 17 to 24, a total of $4,485, to the Japanese Red Cross.

Sales increased significantly after the disaster donation plan was announced to MaryJanesFarm customers, said Brian Ogle, director of customer support. The announcement, explaining that 20% of all purchases for the week following March 17 would be donated, was sent to the farm’s customer e-mail list and posted on their chatroom and Facebook account.

“We were all surprised at the response,” Ogle said. “The orders kept coming. One person placed a $4,000 order.”

The farm staff chose the Japanese Red Cross as the donation recipient on the advice of Brian’s brother, Sam Ogle, who now lives in Tokyo, Japan, with his wife, Natsue, and their infant son, Ryo. Natsue, a nurse, is working with the Fukushima refugees. Brian and Sam were raised in the Moscow area and are the children of Nick Ogle and stepmother MaryJane Butters.