the Right Angler
Many who have been watching this scene with horror and sympathy are wondering what they can do to help. Unfortunately, the many scams and logistical obstacles that kept previous donations from getting to those who need it most have made us all hesitant to provide assistance.
It is for this reason that I want to tell you about Rotary International and Shelterbox. Rotary is a charitable organization made up of 133,000 local clubs in over 200 countries.
We have a local club here in North Attleboro and Plainville. When it comes to disaster relief, Rotary is one of the few organizations with true international capability. Rotary International currently has members on the ground in Port au Prince and is working with local Rotarians from Haiti to provide relief and establish a logistical framework for aid.
I am the President of our local Rotary club here in North Attleboro and Plainville. Shortly after the earthquake hit, I began receiving email updates as to what Rotary was doing on the ground to help. Most of the immediate efforts are centered around Shelterbox. Shelterbox USA is a non-profit organization created and managed by Rotarians to assist in disaster relief.
A Shelterbox is a physical box that weighs 110lbs and has approximate dimensions 2'3" x 1'4" x 11". They are sealed and banded for transit and security. Box contents vary depending on the nature of the disaster requiring their use.
Some of the selected Box items that are available for inclusion in the Box are:
• One 49 gallon box (The Shelterbox) initially the container for delivery of the materials listed below. Once delivered, can be used as water tank, food store, cot, table, etc.
• One ten-person tent, including two fabric interior privacy partitions, outer fly-sheet and repair kit. These tents are considered ‘winter suitable’ by international relief standards.
• Vinyl insulated sleeping mats and lightweight thermal blankets. More compact than sleeping bags, these mats and blankets have multiple uses. The blanket can also be fashioned to catch water, as a tarp, etc. while the mat also serves as a ground ‘table’ for meals, or tent rugs.
• One pack of 180 water purification tablets or a water purification kit; and one 5 gallon flat-pack water container (Each tablet will purify a full container of water providing 1,800 gallons of clean drinking water which should be sufficient for a family of ten for up to three months).
• Two 2.1 gallon, collapsible, plastic water carriers.
• One collapsible trenching shovel
• Rope, 164 foot
• Repellant-treated mosquito netting
• Ten PVC Ponchos/ ten HD plastic bags
• Tool kit in canvas bag: hachet, jack-knife, screwdriver, hammer, hoe head etc.
• Multi-fueled cook stove
• Eating utensils: enamel plates/cups
• Children's activity kit-simple school supplies, stickers and coloring book
If you are considering making a donation to the disaster relief efforts in Haiti, please consider donating to Shelterbox USA. 1700 Shelterboxes have already been dispatched to Haiti and 1600 more will leave the UK this week. As I mentioned, Rotarians are on the ground establishing a logistical plan for distributing the Shelterboxes.
In my opinion, Shelterbox is the best way to insure that your donation will get to those it’s intended for and provide them with the immediate shelter and basic necessities they so desperately need.
Please visit the Shelterbox website at: www.shelterboxusa.org. It will provide you with all of the information you need to donate. Each Shelterbox costs $1000 to assemble and ship, but you can donate any amount you like. Also, each Shelterbox has a unique number. If you sponsor a whole box, you can track it and see exactly where it goes.
If you would prefer, you can also make the donation to the North Attleboro/Plainville Rotary Club’s Shelterbox fund as we will be collecting donations and delivering them directly to Shelterbox as well. If you would rather donate the emergency funds through our Local Club, please email me: Todd Carges at tcarges@constitutiontrust.com and I will facilitate or mail your check to the North Attleboro/Plainville Rotary Club Shelter Box Fund; PO Box 492; North Attleboro, MA 02761. You can make the check’s payable to North Attleboro/Plainville Rotary Club Shelter Box Fund. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.
Thank you for generosity and support. Together, we can help the Haitian people survive this horrible disaster