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Our Speaker Donna Lee Gulley is a member of the Northbrook Rotary Club and a ShelterBox Ambassador. Donna updated our Club about ShelterBox's mission. ShelterBox provides shelter to vulnerable families who have lost their home due to disaster, enabling them to rebuild their lives. Often these communities are overlooked by other organizations but ShelterBox is there to deliver what is needed - a tent, blankets, tools like a hammer, shovel, nails, saw and pliers. Other essentials like pots, pans and utensils, a water filtration bag, and solar light are included in their green box. Since 2012, ShelterBox and Rotary have been in partnership to help those displaced. Often where the Red Cross will not go, ShelterBox and Rotary do. During each deployment, ShelterBox sends a team to ensure the people who need it most get it. The team is always assessing what they can do differently by listening to those people they are helping.They don't just leave the box and let those vulnerable people wondering what to do or how to do what's needed next. They help them by training them to build homes that last - 'a hammer doesn't build a home, but a hammer in the hands of someone with the knowledge, desire and motivation to build a home will'. ShelterBox also helps the displaced connect with a livelihood so they can get back on their feet - gaining skills with tools people need to work in the fields, tend to livestock or support trades. Rebuilding the community is just as essential and this organization helps there as well. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, soap has been included as well. As of today, ShelterBox has served over 200 countries, responded to over 300 disasters and sheltered over 1.5 million people. The organization has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2018 and 2019. Currently there are over 88 million people displaced due to disaster; over 65 million due to conflict. Every minute, 25 people are forced from their homes. The cost of a ShelterBox is $1000. An individual can donate towards an item that is part of the box. It can be as low as $30 for a solar light or as high as $500 for the tent. Donna said many clubs pledge to donate annually at one of the three levels of sponsorship - one box for the bronze level, three boxes for the silver level, five boxes for the gold level. Many times, ten people will pledge $100 each to provide a family in need with shelter and essentials. |
