This has to be one of our more successful campaigns. In just 12 days we amassed $6,500 which the club matched and sent to the Shelter-box Charity.
Our $13,000 was matched by the Canadian Government and that means 26 Shelterboxes went to Haiti courtesy of the generosity of Meaford residents and businesses Approximately 260 people now have shelter, sleeping gear, water and cooking and eating utensils which will last them for some time.
The total raised by Rotary Clubs in our district was $73,000.
As was communicated by us previously, there are hundreds of aid groups who respond immediately to a crisis and they, for the most part, are capable of handling the immediate needs very well.
Rotary tends to look at the longer term. In a few months when this is no longer front page news, the people of Haiti will still be in dire straits. The shelter-box is designed to sustain people for an extended period of time.
For complete details on the shelter-box go to www.shelterbox.ca .
In brief, it contains a tent which can shelter 10 people. It has 10 sleeping sets (ground sheet & blankets or sleeping bag), a multi-fuel stove, a complete cooking set, plates, cups and utensils for 10, a 5-gal water container and purification tablets, plus other survival needs such as cordage, saw. utility knife, etc. Many of these items can be used for extended periods even after the area has recovered and more permanent shelter is available.
The other attractive feature of donations to Rotary is that there is little overhead and through the worldwide network of Rotary Clubs, Rotary has the facilities to ensure that the aid goes directly to where it is needed.
Thank you residents and businesses of Meaford and area for your generosity.
