Simon Adler and Jack Kinch thank guest speaker Tess Widdifield of ShelterBox
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50/50 pickers were Bob Kieswetter, Everton Wilmot, Julie Powell (no winner for the pot of $247.00)
Guest Speaker: Tess Widdifield of ShelterBox
Tess is a Rotarian and works with ShelterBox who are a Natural Disaster Relief organization that works around the world. Their focus is to provide Shelter for families. They’ve helped 88 Million people worldwide due to disasters/conflicts.
They differentiate themselves from other Aid organizations like The Red Cross by the fact their territory is worldwide. The ShelterBoxes include 8 items and are shipped in Green plastic boxes allowing them easy transport.
The 8 items get changed up regularly by community needs in the area of the disaster.
½ of their funding comes from Rotary clubs, the other ½ from private donors, corporations etc.
Each kit costs approximately $500 CDN including shipping and the person who receives it retains ownership of the kit.
They either send Shelter Tents (Large White dome tents that 5 adults can stay in that are double walled and can withstand 6” of standing waters and up to 110km hurricane winds) or Shelter Kits (to aid in repair/rebuilding of their existing homes and contain tools and materials) or AID Kits such as mosquito nets, water filters, solar lighting etc.
2019 Figures, 145,000 people supported over 11 different responses to conflicts or natural disasters and 1,000 days of volunteer hours