ShelterBox spearheads international disaster relief
In 1999, Tom Henderson spotted a gap in aid provision for natural disasters. An ex-UK Royal Navy Search and Rescue diver, he was a man used to dealing with disaster. He was convinced that people experiencing crisis need three things: shelter, comfort, and dignity. He saw he could make a difference, and because of his incredible focus and commitment, hundreds of thousands of lives have been saved.
Tom Henderson came to Sarasota for a luncheon honoring ShelterBox’s 10th anniversary, and the event was inspirational. A decade ago in the UK, he had come up with the idea of the "ShelterBox," a simple container which would provide shelter and other essential equipment for survival in an easily transportable box. A Rotarian for 20 years, Henderson made his pitch to fellow Rotarians, first in the UK, then reaching out to other countries. The idea caught on like wildfire. Bill Griffiths brought Tom Henderson to the Rotary Club at Lakewood Ranch, and before long, ShelterBox USA was founded, with its headquarters right here near Sarasota.
Sally Grint, head of development in the U.K. for ShelterBox, with Veronica Brandon Miller, executive director of ShelterBox USA. Photos by Frank Colson.
On this planet of ours, disaster is inevitable. How we deal with it is a matter of choice. The ShelterBox mission is to be there, to give people a chance to survive, and to show those suffering in times of crisis that the world cares. No challenge is too large for ShelterBox. Whatever problem arises, they deal with it one box at a time, and do so without political or religious bias. They have provided shelter and dignity in the wake of over 100 disasters in more than 60 countries, bringing the organization to the forefront of international disaster relief.
(L. to r.) St. Martha’s students Meghan Grabowski, Savannah Savadel, Elizabeth Reynolds, Brandon Hare and Emily Caldwell.
ShelterBox relies entirely on public donations and people’s generosity. They receive no institutional funding. ShelterBox representatives volunteer to go out to schools and groups to inspire people to participate and/or contribute to the program. Representatives also load boxes in warehouses, filling them with emergency supplies appropriate to the destination environment. Once filled, these volunteers send boxes speedily on their way.
(L. to r.) Ed Koplos, president of the Board of Directors of ShelterBox USA, Mark Dyer and John Freeman.
A select group of volunteers is given extensive training to be early responders, able to meet any disaster, any situation, and to think clearly and decisively on their feet. This cadre of men and women is called the ShelterBox Response Team; they are on call for emergencies such as the earthquake in Haiti. The Response Team oversees delivery of the precious boxes to disaster sites.
It costs approximately $1,000 to outfit a single 110-pound ShelterBox. One 49-gallon box supplies an extended family of up to 10 people with an amazing array of goods: a tent, sleeping mats, lightweight blankets, rope, tools, ponchos, stove, pots, utensils, water purification systems, mosquito netting, children’s activity kits, and other equipment to use while they are displaced or homeless. Only new materials are used, and contents are tailored to the nature and location of the disaster.
Eighty percent of all money donated goes straight to the box. Because each and every box has an identifying number, contributors can go to the website and track exactly where their particular box has gone.
To learn more of the lifesaving ShelterBox, go to www.shelterboxusa.org. The USA headquarters is in Lakewood Ranch.