While it may not seem like much in the grand scheme of things, $10,000 will go towards providing shelter and much-needed supplies to 100 people affected by the earthquakes in Nepal.
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Mudgee Rotary decided not long after the earthquake struck on April 25 to raise money to purchase Shelterboxes that would be donated to people in need.
A Shelterbox is a family survival kit consists of a sturdy relief tent, big enough for an extended family of 10 people; blankets; groundsheets; water purification and storage equipment; a tool kit; kitchen set; children’s activity pack and solar lights.
Each box costs $1000, and Mudgee Rotary president Jan O’Brien said the organisation set out to raise enough money through their own funds and their share of the monthly movie profits for three or four Shelterboxes.
“We’ve weren’t expecting to be able to send 10 Shelterboxes to Nepal but it’s a wonderful outcome nonetheless,” Mrs O’Brien said.
Mudgee Rotary donated the money for the first box from funds set aside by the group to help people affected by natural and man-made disasters.
“We raised $2000 from the movies in May, which helped purchase another two boxes,” Mrs O’Brien said.
“We decided at the beginning to match dollar-for-dollar the donations placed in tins around town up to $3000 but we weren’t expecting to go beyond that. The Mudgee community has once again shown their support and willingness to help those in need by donating $4000 over the past few weeks.”
Mrs O’Brien said Mudgee Rotary was absolutely blown away by the donations the people of Mudgee were willing to give.
“We had one of our Shelterboxes straight away because of two individuals who donated $500 each. It’s just absolutely astounding,” she said.
Mrs O’Brien said other community organisations around the Mid-Western region had also come on board with the relief effort and would send at least another four Shelterboxes overseas.
Shelterbox doesn’t just provided essential supplies. The organisation has disaster response teams that are deployed to disaster areas as soon as possible to help provide shelter and aid where they can, and who deliver the Shelterboxes donated by members of local communities all across the world.
When the earthquake struck Nepal, Shelterbox had a response team on the ground within 48 hours.
As the scale of the disaster facing the Nepalese people became apparent, Shelterbox mobilised another four teams to help provide aid and supplies to those affected by the earthquake.
While teams have been providing emergency repair kits to those in need, the charity’s trademark Shelterboxes will be deployed to those in remote and hard to reach areas.
