"That's what ShelterBox Charity, a Rotary Club International project and the brainchild of a real live hero, have accomplished in nine short years."
That's the life-and-death story Rotary Club of Moncton West and Riverview members heard the night Oct. 16th, 2009, at a fundraising dinner to buy ShelterBox for disaster relief worldwide.
The real live hero, Tom Henderson of Helston, U.K., was the star of the dinner held at Moncton's Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Henderson, who has won international recognition for his humanitarian work, recalled how the idea first began and the road travelled to help millions in need each time there is a significant landslide, flood, earthquake, tsunami or tornado across the globe...
The ShelterBoxes contain a tent for ten people, stove and cooking implements, water purification, blankets and other necessities that offer "shelter, comfort and dignity" to the people homeless in a disaster, Tom told the 100-plus audience from Rotary Club of Moncton West and Riverview and other clubs in the Atlantic Region.
With ShelterBoxes used in 63 countries, "It's the best aid package in the world," he said with pride.
Henderson was in Moncton at the invitation of Rotary Club of Moncton West and Riverview Club President Mike Walsh who met the founder of ShelterBox Charity in England and was immediately sold. Moncton is one of 10 stops Henderson made while crossing Canada to promote the project and raise money. During the evening, 23 boxes, each retailing $1,200, were pledged from different Rotary clubs in the region.
Other organizations, schools, groups and individuals have since come on board to help, raising $50 million to date. But more needs to be done, he said.
A total of 122 boxes were purchased in Canada three years ago. Last year, there were 736, and the push is on for more clubs getting involved in buying more boxes. Three boxes previously purchased by the Rotary Club of Moncton West and Riverview ended up in Africa to help people there. Walsh pointed to the account of a Bangladesh woman giving birth shortly after receiving one of the tents. She would have been forced to give birth in an open field devoid of shelter and dignity, said Walsh.
Henderson, a longtime Rotarian in England, said the idea of distributing these packages to disaster victims came to him one night when watching a television account showing a relief effort where workers tossed bread onto the ground for disaster victims to scoop up. He said he was upset at the indignity and vowed to do something about it.
What he saw was tens of thousands of these boxes distributed the world around and immediately set to work, making it happen beginning with his "1.2 million (Rotarian) friends."
What he saw was tens of thousands of these boxes distributed the world around and immediately set to work, making it happen beginning with his "1.2 million (Rotarian) friends."
Other organizations, schools, groups and individuals have since come on board to help, raising $50 million to date. But more needs to be done, he said.
A total of 122 boxes were purchased in Canada three years ago. Last year, there were 736, and the push is on for more clubs getting involved in buying more boxes. Three boxes previously purchased by the Rotary Club of Moncton West and Riverview ended up in Africa to help people there. Walsh pointed to the account of a Bangladesh woman giving birth shortly after receiving one of the tents. She would have been forced to give birth in an open field devoid of shelter and dignity, said Walsh.
"That's payback" for the Rotary Club's efforts, Tom added.
 | Rotarian Roger Albert attended the event representing the Sussex Rotary Club. He presented our Club's check from funds raised during the 2009 Atlantic Balloon Fiesta, where tickets were sold on a GPS unit supplied by the PotashCorp New Brunswick. |
| Twenty-three Atlantic Canada Rotary Club representatives who presented Tom Henderson (standing on far left) with ShelterBox funding. |  |