Rotary Club of Powell River has made a special purchase of two ShelterBox boxes to go to disaster areas in the world.
“Traditionally we purchase one a year,” said international director Bente Hansen. “With the flooding in Pakistan leaving 33 million people homeless, our club decided to buy another one. I am so proud this decision was made.”
The boxes will give two families emergency shelter along with the necessary tools they’ll need to rebuild. They contain items such as a huge tent that sleeps 10, a stove, solar lights, shovels, tools and children’s activity toys.
The box the contents arrive in becomes a storage area for their personal items. The exact contents of the box are decided by ShelterBox Canada according to the specific needs in that location.
Brooks Interact, for students aged 12 to 18 in high school, is also planning to fundraise for a ShelterBox as one of its international projects.
Stephanie Christensen, executive director of ShelterBox Canada, based in Oakville, Ontario, said boxes are currently being sent to Pakistan, Ukraine and countries in the horn of Africa.
“Rotary International has been a partner since ShelterBox was founded in 2000,” said Christensen.
The organization was nominated for a distinguished Nobel Peace Prize in 2018 and 2019.
A ShelterBox team was on the ground in Pakistan at the end of August to work with local partners and assess shelter and other humanitarian needs. It focused on the hardest hit areas first, including Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan.
According to Christensen, ShelterBox has responded to flooding in Pakistan previously, including a 2010 response that served thousands. It also has significant experience responding to flood disasters, deploying aid to at least 75.
“In April 2021, ShelterBox surpassed providing support to two million people since 2000, responding to more than 300 disasters in nearly 100 countries,” she explained. “We respond urgently to earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, hurricanes, cyclones, tsunamis, or conflict by delivering emergency shelter and lifesaving aid directly to communities that need it most.
Hansen said the local Rotary club fundraises for international projects and local projects.
“All our current Great Grocery Plus raffle funds go to local projects and we use other fundraising opportunities, such as the Ukrainian Dinner in May, to help internationally,” added Hansen. “Our Rotary Foundation provides millions every year from donations from Rotarians. It’s a top organization to donate to, according to Charity Navigator.
“People can be sure when they donate to Rotary Foundation or their local Rotary club that the money goes to where the need is without heavy administration costs.”
For more information on ShelterBox, go to shelterboxcanada.org.
