ShelterBox Founder to Speak at Cira Centre
Friday, September 11th, 2009When former English Royal Navy search and rescue diver Tom Henderson noted that immediately after most natural disasters little is done to provide proper shelter to the victims, he vowed to do something about it. Thus, the birth of ShelterBox.
In 1999, Henderson set out researching survival equipment that could be readily transported and utilized, finding sources of the equipment, and twisting arms to get his project off the ground. His persistence paid off in April 2000 when the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard in Cornwall, England took on the task of providing the 110 pound, 50 gallon plastic containers to disaster victims as a millennium project.
The first 143 boxes were sent to earthquake victims in the state of Gujarat, India in January 2001. Each ShelterBox contains a large tent, sleeping bags, and necessary tools and equipment to allow up to ten people to survive after natural disasters or war.
Little did Tom Henderson or the Cornwall Rotarians realize that they had started what was to become one of the largest Rotary projects in the world with affiliates in eight countries. Since 2001, ShelterBoxes have been sent to more than fifty countries in response to over eighty different disasters, providing aid to over 800,000 people.
As part of a tour to tell the ShelterBox story and raise funds to help cover the ever-increasing demand for disaster response, Henderson will welcome visitors at The HUB at The Cira Centre at 30th Street Station on Thursday, September 17 from 6PM -8PM. Refreshments will be served. ShelterBox contents, pitched tent and all, will be on display. While admission is free, donations of $10 or more to ShelterBox will be welcomed.
Bill Decker, President and COO of The HUB, a Philadelphia Rotarian and a ShelterBox response team member, is hosting the event.
