Shelter Box USA continues its mission to help provide the victims of disasters here and abroad with the materials they need to recover; and the organization continues to grow, as it now has a dedicated employee serving the Chicago region -- helping to spread its message to Rotary and the world beyond.
Amanda Runge from Shelter Box says they continue their traditional work, shipping their now-iconic green boxes to disaster sites around the world. The centerpiece remains the tent, and they now offer several different styles...including one for the tropics, and a winterized version for cold-weather sites. The boxes are now packed according to the demands of a particular disaster site; they can be tailored with water filtration and mosquito netting, scarves and hats, stoves, kitchen utensils and any other equipment needed for the locations they get sent to.
And they also provide Shelter Kits -- smaller packages with basic tools and materials, allowing disaster survivors whose homes remain at least partially intact to do repair work and remain where they live.
The Sycamore Rotary Club donates annually to Shelter Box, providing $1,000 to help outfit a complete Box for deployment to a disaster scene somewhere in the world; more information can be found at www.shelterboxusa.org