Fort Macleod Rotary Club president Jim Monteith accepts a ShelterBox Silver Hero Award from Rotary District Governor Martin Parnell for its contribution to two ShelterBoxes in 2021-’22.
The international charity ShelterBox responds immediately when natural disasters and conflicts occur, bringing temporary housing and other essentials to people forced from their homes.
The Rotary Club of Fort Macleod has made its mission to fund at least one ShelterBox a year.
In 2021-’22, Fort Macleod Rotary funded two ShelterBoxes that were sent to war-torn Ukraine.
That contribution earned the Fort Macleod service club a ShelterBox Silver Hero Award, delivered recently by Rotary District Governor Martin Parnell.
ShelterBox founder Tom Henderson responded with the British Navy to all manner of disasters and noticed people have other immediate needs such as food and medicine.
Henderson determined that people who are displaced by natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes need shelter, along with essentials such as clean water.
Henderson came up with the idea of delivering a durable tent, solar power lights, blankets, water purification system, cooking utensils, stove, tool kit, children’s activity pack, mosquito nets and other essentials in one box.
Henderson pitched the idea to his Rotary Club in southwest England, who undertook it as their 2000 Millennium project, raising money and collecting gear.
ShelterBox responded in 2001 to its first major disaster — a flood in India.
ShelterBox gained world-wide acclaim in 2004 following the Indian Ocean tsunami.
Since then ShelterBox has responded to all manner of events that have displaced people from their homes, including tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, volcano eruptions and armed conflict.
Each ShelterBox weighs 120 pounds and costs $1,200 to fill and deliver to England for storage until they are needed. People who sponsor a box will learn where it is shipped.
At present, ShelterBox Canada is working in Ukraine, Philippines, Haiti, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Cameroon and Nigeria.
ShelterBox is funded solely by donations. For information or to donate, visit www.shelterbox.org.
People who sponsor a ShelterBox are notified of where it is delivered.
