At a recent Rhinebeck Rotary Club meeting, Shelter Box Ambassador for Rotary International District 7210 and former Rhinebeck Rotary President, J. Louis Turpin, presented the Rhinebeck Rotary Club with the first ever ShelterBox Hero Award for their five-year commitment to annual sponsorship of a ShelterBox. This represents part of Rhinebeck Rotary’s ongoing commitment to humanitarian service both locally and worldwide.
 

To provide international disaster relief, the ShelterBox Project allows for sponsorship of green boxes which provide shelter and life-saving equipment in one portable box.

 

“The mission of ShelterBox is to provide humanitarian aid worldwide in the form of shelter, warmth, and dignity for people displaced by natural and other disasters. ShelterBox has firmly established itself at the forefront of international disaster relief, providing nearly 120,000 ShelterBoxes to survivors of over 170 disasters in more than 70 countries so far. In fact, other aid organizations have told us that our green box stands out as ‘a symbol of hope in a landscape of disarray’. For example, ShelterBox provided over 45,000 boxes at 21 disaster zones in 2010 (including over 28,000 boxes/35,000 tents in Haiti), and it is our goal to have the capability to provide at least 50,000 ShelterBoxes to those in need every year from this point forward. To do so, we need your help! In 2010, approximately half of the District 7210 Rotary Clubs responded by sponsoring a total of 64 boxes. It is my goal to exceed this milestone and have EVERY Club in our District sponsor at least one ShelterBox this year”, stated Louis Turpin. “I was honored to present the FIRST EVER ShelterBox Hero award to Rhinebeck Rotary for their considerable commitment to annually sponsor a ShelterBox for the next five years”.

Photo Courtesy of Maureen Gates, Sharp Images Photographic (pictured are Deborah Breen and Louis Turpin)