ShelterBox Donation Proposal 

submitted by Leslie Mullens, Acting International Services Chair

May 2008 

Proposal:  In response to last week’s devastating cyclone in Myanmar (previously Burma), in which hundreds of thousands of people were left homeless, I propose that our clubs and members be encouraged to make tax deductible donations to the Rotary Club administered 501(c)3 ShelterBox USA to cover the cost of  as many of their refugee camp boxes as we can.  Each box costs $1,000, which covers the contents, delivery, and partial cost of the on-the-ground support team that ensures aid gets to the people who need it.   

ShelterBox is the first organization to get a visas for their UK-based crisis response team - they landed in-country Friday with 101 ShelterBoxes providing relief packs for more than 1,000 people.  They have over 1,500 more boxes en route now.  If each of our clubs meets our goal of $500 per club, we will raise $21,000 - that's 21 boxes that will provide more than 200 people ongoing shelter and enough fresh water for three months. 

This proposal will be presented to all clubs throughout the district in the next District Newsletter.  Think of what we could do if we raised more, like the Kihei Sunrise club.  They were our first responder with more $1,050 in donations from their club and individual members within two days.

What is a ShelterBox?  It's a 49 gallon heavy duty storage container that contains:

• 2 10-person tents,
• sleeping mats,
• thermal blankets,
• sleeping bags,
• 180 water purification tablets (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),
• a flat-pack water container,
• a trenching shovel,
• 164 feet of rope,
• mosquito netting,
• water carriers,
• ponchos,
• plastic bags,
• tool kit,
• cook stove and fuel,
• utencils,
• pots,
• and a children's creative activity kit.

They've delivered 30,000 boxes in 47 countries (including the US during Katrina) in the 7 years they've been at it, so have gotten the contents and delivery down to a science.  The boxes in Pakistan have been used day after day for more than two years so far.  Each tent and box are stamped with the Rotary logo and the name of the sponsoring club to be acknowledged all over the world.

Tax deductible donations can be made to:  ShelterBox USA and sent to 8374 Market St. #203, Bradenton, FL 34202.  For tracking purposes, please make sure you write “District 5000 – Myanmar” in the Memo field.  Also, please coordinate by club and email Leslie with pledge/contribution amounts if you're donating separately so she can track our success in this district-wide project. 

For more information check out this press release, the Project Proposal, go to www.shelterboxusa.org, or contact project lead Leslie Mullens at leslie@theplaybookgroup.com or 808-280-6699.

READ MORE ON SHELTERBOX HISTORY AND THIS PROPOSAL