Rossendale Rotary regularly donates money for the purchase of Aquaboxes and Shelterboxes in emergency situations. These boxes promptly provide clean water and essential shelter and survival equipment for areas throughout the world affected by flooding, earthquakes and other natural and humanitarian disasters. in 2023 we have provided both Shelterboxes and Aquaboxes for the Pakistan and Libya floods and the earthquakes in Türkiye, Syria, and Morocco.
The idea for Shelterbox was hit upon in 2000 by the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard in Cornwall, when Rotary encouraged members to come up with projects to mark the Millennium. ShelterBox became a registered charity in 2003
Shelterbox provides kits that include a selection of hardwearing tools and materials, customised to suit the needs of each community.
The tools and materials they send provide the essentials that families need to start rebuilding homes straight away, ranging from tough tarpaulin and timber to corrugated sheeting and even room dividers.
Aquabox provides safe drinking water through the use of filtration units, to crisis zones around the world. Originally established in 1992 by the Wirksworth Rotary Club, it is a registered charity that is managed and run by the Aquabox Trustees.
Each Aquabox Gold Box is tailored to support a family group and contains water purification filters as well as items of humanitarian aid.