In Cornwall, the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard runs a scheme called Shelterbox which aims to provide urgent relief around the globe when natural disasters occur.
I quote from the Shelterbox website regarding the immediate response to the Cyclone Disaster that struck Burma (Myanmar) over the weekend:
"May 6th - Myanmar (Burma): ShelterBox responds immediately to the devastating cyclone to hit Myanmar. 22,000 lives are reported to have been lost and 95% of houses are destroyed as the cyclone swept in-land after several days at sea. 224 boxes left from the pre-positioned site in Dubai over the weekend, 220 boxes have left from Melbourne, Australia and a further 200 boxes with two tents each were packed this morning at the ShelterBox HQ in Helston, Cornwall. A team of four SRT members are making arrangements to assist with the difficult distribution of vital aid."
A number of things strike me:
- The speed of response
- The fact that ShelterBoxes are pre-positioned around the globe
- This is done by a voluntary organisiation that, in the UK, has an image of wrinkly doddery old farts. Clearly nothing could be further from the truth.
Shelterbox team - I salute you. Why not give them a few quid? Thank you.
1 comment:
Some of us Rotarians are wrinkly old farts! We have members in their 90's who are still going strong. But we have a lot of dynamic younger people who just get out there and get things done, too!
Thanks for your support of Shelterbox!
A rotarian from Australia who will be raising money for Shelterbox at our local shopping centre this weekend to replace the 200 boxes we have sent to Burma
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