Gus Neilson: Andrew Wilson - Shelter Box

At Thursday evening's meeting President Scott Elliott welcomed Andrew Wilson of Grangemouth Rotary Club to speak to the Club on "Shelterbox" for which charity he is District Co-ordinator, and two members' guests, Jane Cox-Moore and Roger Bettis. Andrew's talk followed a graphic account of the work that Shelterbox wherever natural or man made disasters occur world wide.  The charity is based in Cornwall but has teams of  disaster trained volunteers in countries around the world to make sure that the shelterboxes reach the victims and those in greatest need. These boxes are tailored to meet the urgent needs of those affected in any part of the world, depending on climate, terrain and other factors, and include amongst a myriad of essential equipment an easily erected tent big enough to house a family of ten ! Smaller  shelter kits are also sent out to disaster areas, and again they include a number of essential supplies, the contents again tailored to suit the needs of the area affected. A full Shelterbox costs just under £600, and a Shelter Kit costs £35,and the charity is not in receipt of Government funding, being reliant solely on donations. Since the Indian ocean tsunami in 2000, over 100,000 Shelterboxes have been distributed worldwide, testament indeed to the life saving, life changing work of this charity. A hearty vote of thanks was proposed by President Scott, and warmly accorded by all present.