Shelter Boxes Helping Tsunami Victims

reprinted from the Pelican Press, Sarasota FL, January 13, 2005

In response to the overwhelming need for emergency housing and subsistence supplies, Rotary clubs and individuals throughout the United States are providing support to a most unique humanitarian project: Shelter Box.

The first three shipments, totaling 550 Shelter Boxes, are leaving Cornwell, England, for Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and India to provide housing, shelter and comfort to 5,500 victims of the devastating tsunami that hit coastal areas in the Indian Ocean. Additional shipments of boxes will be leaving within days.

Shelter Boxes are large green heavy-duty plastic boxes that each contain a 10-foot x 20-foot three-room 10-person tent, 10 sleeping bags, water purification equipment to support the needs of 10 people for six months, a multi-fuel cook stove, cooking equipment, eating utensils, tools and assorted other survival items.

Shelter Box has become an international grass-roots service project of Rotary clubs worldwide. Headquartered in Cornwell, with support centers in the United States, Australia, Canada and Japan, Shelter Box has provided housing and comfort to more than 25,000 people after natural and man-made tragedies have struck.

Since its inception in 2001, boxes have been shipped to Iran, Pakistan, Granada, Uganda, Iraq, Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola and Liberia.

A single, complete Shelter Box is supported by a tax-deductible donation of $900.

Requests have been made for many hundreds more Shelter Boxes to help tsunami victims. Donations from businesses, individuals, civic, religious and Rotarian groups support the efforts of the Shelter Box Trust, housed in Cornwell, from where all shipments are sent.

Requests from recognized international aid agencies are processed through the office of Shelter Box Trust. Shipments are airlifted by commercial, humanitarian and governmental organizations--usually at no charge to Shelter Box.

Urgently needed pledges of support are now beginning to reach the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch in Bradenton, the U.S. headquarters of Shelter Box USA.

Rotary District 6150 in Arkansas has pledged immediate support of 100 boxes.

The Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch has donated an additional 25 boxes for immediate commitment to tsunami victims.

New York Rotary District 7210 is donating 66 boxes to tsunami relief.

Individuals and clubs are challenging others to match or exceed additional pledges of support. Donations of any amount will be combined to fund the $900 necessary to purchase a box.

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For further information, go to the Shelter Box Web site at www.shelterboxusa.org, call Shelter Box USA at (941) 358-7676, or mail donations to Shelter Box USA, 8374 Market Street, Box 203, Lakewood Ranch FL 34202.

Shelter Box USA is a Florida registered 501-c-3 charitable corporation. All donations are acknowledged and are tax-deductible.

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