A tent to stay dry, blankets to keep warm, water purification supplies and a stove to eat and drink – after a disaster, these items can save lives.
The Rotary Club of Abbotsford-Matsqui is donating two of these caches of supplies through ShelterBox, an international charity that helps people in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.
The 120-lb. boxes each cost about $1,000 and contain enough to aid an entire family. They also include a tool kit, cooking utensils, a children’s activity pack and other items. A trained response team delivers them along with instructions and aid.
Boxes have been delivered in the wake of such catastrophes as a 2015 earthquake in Nepal, the ongoing refugee crisis in Syria, a 2013 typhoon in the Philippines and a 2013 tornado in Oklahoma. The charity is a partnership with Rotary International.