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Don Reeves, our New Generations Chair, and 2 Rotaractors, Melissa Gutierrez and Fray Reyes, presented the history of ShelterBox and their Rotaract Club’s fundraising activities at Marymount.  (Their Club President, Victoria Perez, was in a lacrosse game at UCLA tonight and could not attend our meeting.)  They have a table in the cafeteria with a ShelterBox display and a collection box.  Their goal by March 25, with our help, is $1000 for one box (in honor of our late District Governor-Elect Jim Dyer, who was the District ShelterBox Coordinator).

They showed a DVD video of ShelterBox in action around the world.  ShelterBox was founded by Rotarians in England in the year 2000 as a partner with Rotary International, to respond to urgent need for disaster relief.  ShelterBox USA is in Florida.  About 130,000 boxes have been distributed to homeless disaster victims, and our Club, with the help of our Rotaract and Interact Clubs, has raised $7000 for ShelterBox since 2007.

ShelterBoxes were distributed to earthquake victims in Haiti, some of whom are still homeless several years later.  Tsunami victims in Japan, Hurricane Katrina victims in the US and war victims in Syria have been among the recipients.  ShelterBox personnel are often among the first responders in earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, hurricanes and human conflicts, deploying to 31 different locations last year.  (Each donor is notified when/where that box is delivered.)

ShelterBox design has evolved over the years.  Each kit, costing $1000, is contained in a sturdy green plastic box that can be carried by 2 people.  It contains a durable tent with ground sheet, that can shelter 10 people and is resistant to rain and high winds.  There are also a multi-fuel stove, water filtration and storage equipment, blankets, eating and cooking utensils, tools including ax, hammer, wire cutter, pliers and rope, and a children’s activity kit including coloring books and crayons for children who have lost everything.  The box itself can be used for secure waterproof storage.

Our Club voted to donate our Happy Bucks and raffle proceeds for this week and next week to this ShelterBox project.  To participate or contribute, please contact President Victoria Perez (mmcrotaract@gmail.com) or Don Reeves (dreeves895@aol.com).