Response Team delivers to Families in Need

We reported last year that the Rotary Club of Billericay was recognized for the scale of its donations to Shelter Box, receiving the organization's Bronze Award for donating 25 boxes.  We have continued to donate boxes to this worthwhile organization in support of their efforts to help those affected by disasters worldwide.

Our latest donation went to Zimbabwe.  When heavy rains hit Zimbabwe earlier this year, flash floods forced thousands of people from their homes. In a remote corner of Zimbabwe, thousands of people have left their homes and lands behind and are living in extremely tough conditions at Chingwizi camp. Camp residents have been surviving in the camp since the beginning of February, with many families left sleeping on the bare earth for weeks on end, no more than frail black plastic sheeting keeping their families safe. Due to the remote location, many other agencies have been unable to attend to the needs of those in the camp.

The ShelterBox Response Team delivered essential ShelterBox aid to 805 families in desperate need, including Zvirurami Mahora and her five children. 

When the floods hit, Zvirurami’s home was damaged and she lost all her belongings. Recently widowed, she woke up one morning to find rising water at her doorstep, and moved out with her five children immediately. From living in two solid huts, with an income from gardening and growing vegetables, in the space of a day Mrs Mahora found her family sleeping in the dirt with no way to provide for them.  All they had when she met the ShelterBox team was a plastic sheet for the whole family to sleep under. She was overwhelmed when she was given her ShelterBox tent and accessories.

The next day she said it had rained hard during the night but the tent had protected her, and more
importantly her children, just as if they were sleeping in a brick house.