Shelter Box presentation

18th January 2024 Shelter Box Glen and Andy Foreman

Andy explained that the Shelter Box disaster relief Charity was founded in 2000 through Rotary initiatives. During that time, they have provided disaster relief in 98 countries, with 429 000 people receiving aid from hurricanes, earth quakes, floods, conflicts and droughts. They are based in Truro, but have warehouses in 5 continents, so that the contents of the Green Shelter Boxes can be delivered by local Rotarians, quickly to the relevant sites. Europe 6000; Panama 2000; Middle East 6000; The Philippines 8000 and Asia 6000.  They showed us through the contents of the Green Boxes ( which are no longer used, as all the contents required now no longer fit in them): Thermal blankets, cooking pans, mosquito nets, water containers and filters, solar lights, basic and repair tool kits and axes for example.

Currently, they are working in Ukraine (100 000 supplied); Israel/Gaza; Libya floods; Yemen. There are regulations they have to conform to, such as if less than 200 000 people are affected, the country concerned will look after it themselves and they have to get permission to gain access, which can take a long time and is frustrating with the political and bureaucratic issues.

£3m is donated through Rotary each year with the ‘boxes’ costing £600 each; 80% goes directly for the boxes and the other 20% to engineers and administration.  The Rotarian ‘responders’ have to go through a training programme, with only, on average 3 people passing out of a class of 20

 The members joined Barry in the normal round of appreciation, having said that although we have heard Shelter Box presentations previously, it was good to get an update (particularly for or new members) and from a committed and enthusiastic couple.                             AR