Lifesaving ShelterBox displayed at Trade Show

: Youth Exchange students Nora Kurzwelly and Raeann Senez show the compact lifesaving ShelterBox kit before it will be assembled at the Trade Show. Nora reflects on her experiences with her Scout group in Poland. The Scouts practice survival in all kinds of outdoor conditions with very few supplies. It’s hard to fathom the devastation experienced during disasters, but Nora and Raeann have a strong sense of gratitude and giving to others. Fortunately, they are in a position to actively help people through ShelterBox. They look forward to educating the public about the importance of ShelterBox.

: In February 2013, ShelterBox Canada welcomed Les Stroud as their celebrity ambassador to raise awareness for families left homeless by disasters. His involvement with ShelterBox will help secure much needed funds to ensure families receive shelter and other lifesaving supplies in their greatest hour of need. Stroud is best known as the twelve-time Gemini nominated producer and star of the internationally broadcast hit TV series Survivorman. He knows what it’s like to survive with nothing, and has done so alone in remote wilderness locations from Papua New Guinea to the Arctic tundra. He brings no food, shelter, water, tools, or camera crew. He tapes himself, and makes use of what he can find to survive. Stroud is also a survival expert for the Canadian Military Armed Forces.

By Kathy Smith
Three students in the Fort Nelson Rotary Club’s International Youth Exchange Program have taken on the challenge of raising money for ShelterBox Canada. Each ShelterBox kit (bin shown above) is full of life sustaining necessities for communities that have been struck by disaster. Kits are transported all over the world.
The Fort Nelson club began fundraising for ShelterBox Canada in 2011/2012 through recycling efforts. Reggie-Anne Harrold who is currently on exchange in Denmark, received help from fellow students, Julie Reibell (from France) and Krystina Spracklin (returned from Thailand). They juggled schoolwork and other activities to manage the labour intensive project of preparing and separating recyclables to raise money.
At the tradeshow this weekend the club’s inbound student Nora Kurwelly (from Poland) and outbound student Raeann Senez (going to Switzerland) are setting up an entire ShelterBox and displaying all of its Contents. While showcasing the lifesaving sturdy tent and its supplies the students hope to raise money to purchase one or more ShelterBoxes, that can be deployed where needed.
A typical ShelterBox contains a custom-designed disaster relief tent that can provide a home for an extended family, water containers and a water purification system, a stove with cooking utensils (pots, plates and cups), warm gloves and hats, blankets, groundsheets, mosquito nets, a toolkit, a children’s activity pack, and other vital items. The contents are tailored depending on the nature and location of the disaster. High standards for product development, testing, and innovation ensure that each item is robust enough to be of lasting value.
Highly trained ShelterBox Response Team volunteers deliver aid, and work with other international organisations and local partners. When a disaster occurs, ShelterBox teams are often on the ground within 24 hours to get the first shipment of boxes on the ground as fast as possible.
Lives change in an instant when disaster strikes. Hurricane Sandy, dubbed Superstorm Sandy, developed from a tropical wave in the western Caribbean Sea. Its force grew as it hit country after country, and moved ashore in New Jersey last October. Sandy was the deadliest and most destructive hurricane of the last Atlantic hurricane season, and the second most expensive in US history. Twenty-four states were affected including New York, and damage in the US was estimated to be over $71 billion. In Canada, two were killed in Ontario, and damage throughout Ontario and Québec was estimated at $100 million.
ShelterBox Canada’s Fundraising and Administrative Coordinator, Stephanie Near, says “ShelterBox Canada is so excited for Nora and Raeann to take part in the Rotary Youth Exchange Challenge. By supporting ShelterBox Canada, Nora and Raeann will be helping us to provide shelter, warmth, and dignity to families across the world who have been made homeless by disaster.”
ShelterBox Canada has made a difference for communities all over the world who have lost everything. It not only delivers lifesaving supplies, it delivers a renewed sense of hope and the promise of a fresh start. Each donation is allocated to a specific numbered ShelterBox, and supporters can track their donations and find where their boxes have been deployed.
Contributing to ShelterBox is a unique way to help families who may otherwise have nothing. All donations received through this project are allocated to the ‘Rotary Youth Exchange ShelterBox Challenge’.
The organization’s goal is to assist 50,000 families every year, and since 2000, 125,965 ShelterBoxes have been deployed.
Before ShelterBox, response to disasters came in the form of food and medicine. Little or no shelter was available to help victims through their first few days, or in the coming weeks and months it takes to rebuild their lives.
In 2000, ShelterBox was launched to fill that void. The Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard in Cornwall England, adopted the kit as its millennial project. They didn’t realize it would become the largest Rotary Club project in the world with affiliates in countries around the globe. ShelterBox Canada was established in 2010, and registered as a Canadian charity.
ShelterBox is a perfect fundraiser for students in the youth exchange program. While learning to live in Canadian society they demonstrate volunteerism in helping others worldwide.