“No one without shelter after disaster.” These are the guide the work of ShelterBox, the international nonprofit organization that provides shelter, essential items and technical assistance to help some of the worlds most vulnerable people recover and rebuild their lives after disaster.
On Friday, our own Pam Pine gave a powerful presentation about the activities and direction of this Rotary International partner organization that has been providing shelter to people around the world in response to disasters for the past 25 years. Pam joined in supporting ShelterBox after hearing a ShelterBox presentation at our Rotary club 17 years ago. She was hooked and quickly began serving as a ShelterBox ambassador to clubs in our district with so much dedication she named to the ShelterBox Hall of Fame!
ShelterBox is not funded by Rotary but works in partnership with Rotary when responding to disasters to better connect and serve people in need. As Pam said, “Rotary has the local connections and ShelterBox has the needed supplies.” It's a strategically beautiful collaboration that leverages the strengths of each organization to their fullest.
Like Rotary, ShelterBox is non-political and is focused on meeting specific needs at specific times in specific areas. What they provide to stabilize and shelter people in need depends on what is needed, whether that be a tent, water purification items, cooking pots and pans, tools to repair and rebuild, bedding, solar lights, or technical expertise.
Since its founding in 2000 ShelterBox has supported over 3 million people in 100 countries and has been nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize. There are so many needs across the world as disasters are becoming more frequent and more severe. There are also many ways to give to ShelterBox; please visit the ShelterBox Giving site to learn more. Thank you, Pam, for modeling the Rotary Test in all you say and do.