Rotarian Bill Tuszynski caught his listeners up at the regular meeting of the ERC on Thursday, August 15, 2019, when he said that there are 85 million displaced people around the globe due to natural disasters and conflict. In 2018, Shelter Box helped 30,000 families in 17 countries where there was flooding, earthquakes, tsunami, volcanic activity and conflict. Sadly, almost 3/4 of the people needing immediate shelter and practical help have been displaced due to violence and conflict. Shelter Box began as the millennium project of the Rotary Club of Heston-Lizard in England in the year 2000. Rotary International renewed its 3-year partnership with Shelter Box in 2018-1019. Our District is the #2 fundraiser for Shelter Box in the USA. Shelter Box enjoys a top 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.
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The basic Shelter Box contains one of four styles of tent best suited to the location, a water purification system, a solar light, blankets and/or mosquito netting, cooking utensils, a shovel, and a kids activity kit. It weighs about 125 pounds and costs about $1,000. Boxes are staged and ready for deployment in Florida, the Phillippines, Dubai, and Malaysia. Shelter Box is always evaluating its usefulness and now has auxiliary "School in a Box" to keep students learning and "Shelter Kit" which contains basic tools and hardware to help homeowners repair their houses.
Shelter Box has been nominated in the past for a Nobel Peace Prize. Shelter Box has helped in the USA after Hurricane Katrina (2005) and Superstorm Sandy (2012). The current goal is to be able to reach and help 1,000,000 people next year.
Bill Tusszynski is a member of the Quakertown Rotary Club and a chemist.