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| Inspire - Seeking Shelter |
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How a small Cornish charity helps thousands on an international scale International disaster relief charity ShelterBox recently reached its milestone 50th country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A team distributed an initial 200 boxes to those displaced by conflict, with further supplies soon following. The charity has already responded to more than 75 disasters since its introduction as a Rotary Club Millennium project. The ShelterBox concept was the creation of Rotarian and ex-Royal Navy search-and-rescue diver Tom Henderson, the charity’s founder and CEO. His concern was that the homelessness caused by disasters, whether natural or otherwise, came second to an immediate need for securing aid, water and food. In late 1999, Tom realised nobody was dealing with this specific challenge and ShelterBox became the answer. With the assistance of the Helston-Lizard Rotary Club, the charity was launched in April 2000 and the first boxes sent to India in January 2001. Amazingly, ShelterBox is often able to get a response team to the scene of a disaster, wherever it may be, within 48 hours of a request for help. After flying out with commercial airlines, teams charter vehicles locally and work alongside other organizations such as local armed forces and aid agencies. Where needed, they often have to find alternative forms of transport; whether this is using donkeys in the mountains of Kashmir or building rafts in Sri Lanka to reach communities cut off by flooding.  Lives displaced by conflict in Kenya make use of a ShelterBox tent - and find a unique function for the box itself. Each ShelterBox is a large, green plastic container that holds a 10-person tent and a range of other equipment. Among typical box contents are thermal blankets, ground sheets, stoves, cooking pans and utensils, water containers and basic tools. A selection of other items is also kept in stock so that the contents can be adjusted to suit specific situations. 16 locations received aid in 2008 alone, including China, Haiti, Nepal and the Ukraine. Boxes have also been provided during some of the most severe disasters of recent years, such as the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 and the Pakistan and Kashmir earthquake of 2005. Having helped over 800,000 people so far, raising over £25 million, this small Cornish charity has surpassed all hopes to become one of the most effective aid agencies in the world.  Much-needed boxes arrive during the 2004 Indonesian tsunami. How can I help? Donations can be made online via the website www.shelterbox.org. Alternatively, cheques should be made payable to The ShelterBox Trust and sent to Unit 1, Water ma Trout, Helston, Cornwall TR13 0LW. ShelterBox relies on volunteers to make its work possible. Volunteers help at ShelterBox HQ (in Helston) in office administration, answering telephones, and packing boxes. Volunteers also help with information stands at public events both in Cornwall and around the country, give talks to help raise awareness of ShelterBox and promote their schools project. ShelterBox Response Teams are also comprised entirely of volunteers. Anyone interested in volunteering can get a copy of the volunteer registration form by calling 01326 569782 or by emailing info@shelterbox.org |