The Shelter Box program was originally devised by Rotariann Tom Henderson a retired navy diver from Cornwall in the UK who became concerned that wherever there was a disaster, people not only lost their homes they also lost their dignity.
Through his local Rotary Club he devised the idea and set up the Shelter Box project in 2000 which over 10 years has delivered 67800 SBs into tsunami, earthquake zones and other disaster areas. Shelter Box Australia is operated as a Trust by the Rotary Club of Endeavour Hills at Dandenong delivering over 7500 boxes to devastated zones since August 2008. 80 Boxes were sent to the bush fire ravaged areas in February 2009.
Worldwide SB centres have delivered just on 8500 boxes along with a further 5000 boxes each containing 2 tents but no equipment to Haiti. Richard Bramston donated a jumbo jet to fly the first consignment to Haiti, such is the support given to this venture. In the last 24 hours boxes for 4480 people have been dispatched to Chile. A city�housing 5000 inhabitants was set up in Labutta, Myanmar (Burma), in 2008. Shelter Box was the first aid agency granted visas to enter Myanmar following the disaster.
A Shelter Box comprises its plastic box in which there is a 10man high quality tent, 10 sleeping bags or thermal blankets, a cooking stove which can use any liquid fuel other than petrol, water purification tablets, water containers, cooking pans, utensils, bowls, mugs and even the wooden stirrer. A tool kit with shovel, axe and saw along with childrens colouring books and pencils is included. These items assist children to return to some form of routine and normality in their often deeply traumatized community lifestyle.
Boxes cost $1200 each and as it is numbered, purchaser are able to track its final destination.
The web site address is www.shelterbox.org where there are numerous photographs, articles and news updates.
Donate to Shelterbox today.
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