Here is the latest update from Ally Buck, the Rotary and Community Fundraising Coordinator with ShelterBox Canada. She is getting to know the Rotary Clubs and Rotarians that support ShelterBox. Ally is originally from Pictou County, Nova Scotia where she attended the Nova Scotia Community College’s Social Services/Community Development program. She relocated to Kingston, Ontario to attend Queen’s University where she graduated with her BA in Global Development Studies and is a member of the Rotaract Club of Kingston......
ShelterBox Update MARCH 2025:
Greetings from the Rotary International Assembly! I am here representing ShelterBox, chatting with all of the incoming DGEs from across the globe. Attached is our impact for 2024!
Ally Buck
ShelterBox Canada
2010 Winston Park Drive, Suite 200, Oakville, ON, L6H 5R7
E: allybuck@shelterboxcanada.org T: 647.695.1339
ShelterBox Canada is a registered Canadian charity (Charity Number 84628 3208 RR0001).
Mailing Address: ShelterBox Canada, 200-2010 Winston Park Drive, Oakville, ON, L6H 5R7
New monthly donations are being MATCHED:
If you've been looking for a sign, this is it! You can make DOUBLE the impact on communities facing disaster by becoming a monthly donor today. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, a generous donor has offered to match new monthly contributions for twelve months – up to a total of $25,000 – if you make your gift by March 15, 2025. That means for the first year, every $1 you give goes twice as far! Regular, ongoing donations to our work are so critical. Please consider donating $25 or more a month to help us support families in crisis – right away and for months to come. This is the difference reliable, sustainable funding has. CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR MATCHED MONTHLY GIFT
ShelterBox and Rotary Exclusive Webinar: March 31, 2025: YOU ARE INVITED
I am excited to invite you to a ShelterBox and Rotary exclusive webinar featuring Canadian members of the ShelterBox emergency response team. Andre Bloemink and Dave Hallett will be joining us to share their experiences from the field and the impactful work they are doing to provide emergency shelter and aid to families affected by disaster around the world.
Date: March 31, 2025 Time: 12pm EDT Platform: Microsoft Teams
Following this insightful session, there will be a question and answer period for participants. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about ShelterBox's mission and how you can support our efforts in making a difference. We look forward to your presence! Click HERE to Register
With gratitude,
Marissa Lair
Manager of Fundraising and Development
Monitoring Updates
Democratic Republic of the Congo: We have made the decision not to respond to escalating conflict in Eastern DRC due to highly restricted access to the area. We will continue to monitor this crisis.
Deployment Updates
Gaza: With our partners in Gaza, we have supported around 15,000 people with emergency shelter aid and essential household items since October 2023 – including tents, tarpaulins, and plastic sheeting, as well as rope, mattresses and thermal blankets, kitchen sets, and washing and hygiene kits. This aid has been distributed by organizations within Gaza that we are partnering with – Medical Aid for Palestinians and their implementing partner Social Development Forum (SDF), and the Agricultural Development Association (PARC). PARC are now preparing to receive a shipment of over 400 tents, and we are planning to send a further 600 tents via Jordan to arrive in the North of Gaza. The cease fire has provided a long-awaited opportunity for improved access and a scaling of the humanitarian response; we are in discussion with our partners to plan our response to this changing context. We hope to continue our support to the people of Gaza for as long as the emergency continues.
Philippines: Distributions in Catanduanes and Camsur are complete following Cyclone Trami & Pepito. The aid packages included blankets, shelter tool kits, tarpaulins, CGI (corrugated iron sheeting) for roofing and cash assistance to pay for construction support.
Bangladesh: We set out to support 700 vulnerable families whose homes have been damaged or destroyed following flooding in August 2024.100 families whose homes were completely destroyed will receive a full reconstruction package for both plinths and shelters. 600 families with damaged homes will receive materials to reinforce their plinths, as well as cash to hire trained masons, and purchase materials to restore their homes. All 700 families will receive cash assistance to help meet some of their basic needs. Distributions began in December and as of the end of January, 54% of families whose homes were destroyed have completed or at least begun construction. Of those whose shelters were partially damaged, 45% have received their materials.
Chad: Distributions of personal hygiene items and household items began in December. A ShelterBox team deployed in December 2024 to assess the prototype mudbrick shelters and agree the project location for emergency shelters.
Cameroon: A ShelterBox assessment team recently carried out a visit to Minawao camp, and another settlement site (off-camp) in order to understand the range of shelter provision in Project 12 and commence planning and project design for Project 13. Project 13 will be a three-year project continuing our support for displaced families affected by the conflict and the other drivers of displacement in the Far North region of Cameroon.
Mozambique:Cyclone Chido made landfall on 15th December 24 and damaged or destroyed over 700,000 homes. Because of our preparedness work, distributions were underway within 5 days, which included blankets, mosquito nets, kitchen sets and solar lights.
Ethiopia: Distributions are complete and we are now in the planning stages for Project 7, which will be implemented with a new local partner, PAD (Positive Action for Development) and aim to contribute to the self-recovery of at least 1,600 displaced and returning families in the Tigray region.
Burkina Faso: In partnership with HELP, Project 6 has focused on the construction of new emergency shelters to support 1,000 newly displaced families. The Sahel tent is designed to shelter families through their first 1.5 years of displacement. It became evident, however, that displaced families have been residing in these shelters for a lot longer. We adjusted the design to facilitate this, with the construction of a concrete base to protect families from flooding and improve levels of hygiene and dignity.All distributions and construction is complete. A ShelterBox team deployed in January to discuss findings from the project and visit distribution sites.
WHEN DISASTER STRIKES, EVERY SECOND COUNTS
We can’t predict disasters, but with your support, we can be ready to respond and provide displaced families with the life-saving aid they need right when they need it most.
When disaster strikes, families lose their homes, possessions and livelihoods.
This year, we have helped hundreds of thousands of people recover after losing their homes to disasters. But our warehouses are now empty, and we need to restock them.
We urgently need support to prepare, respond and restock, so we can keep helping families who have lost everything.
PLEASE SEE THEIR WEBSITE: https://www.shelterboxcanada.org/
Please donate now to help save lives around the world.
WHERE WE'RE WORKING NOW:
Read our Current Operations to see more countries your support is working in.
https://www.shelterboxcanada.org/about-shelterbox-canada/
GET CONNECTED: Join the conversation :
Did you know that there is a Rotary and ShelterBox Support Group on Facebook? It is a group that brings together Rotarians, ShelterBox Supporters, Staff and ShelterBox Response Teams to discuss all things ShelterBox and Rotary. It is a great place to see the latest operations updates, Rotary deployment information and video content to share with your Rotary Club. If you would like to join the group and conversation, please search for “Rotary and ShelterBox Support Group” on Facebook and ask to join the conversation!
A SHELTERBOX SPEAKER FOR YOUR ROTARY CLUB MEETING:
Looking for speakers this Rotary year? We would love to tell your club even more about ShelterBox and the impact Rotarians make. Request a speaker: https://www.shelterboxcanada.org/actiontoolkit/request-a-speaker/
THE IMPORTANCE OF PRE-POSITIONED AID:
When disaster strikes, every second counts. That’s why our pre-positioned aid makes such a huge impact, because we can get there even faster by being prepared. Click HERE to find out more.
JOIN THE SHELTERBOX COMMUNITY TODAY
Join the ShelterBox community today and you’ll receive exclusive updates about where ShelterBox is working, how you’re aid supports families, and stories directly from the people you are helping. But more importantly, you’ll be joining a community of passionate individuals who are impatient to see a world where no one is left without shelter. We’ll be sending you a first-hand look at what life is like for families affected by disaster, and how our global ShelterBox network works to help these families self-recover. You’ll receive exclusive news, stories, videos, and more — right to your inbox. Join today, and be a shining light in the dark for families recovering from disaster. https://www.shelterboxcanada.org/sign-up/
About ShelterBox Canada: Canada is a registered charity that has been a part of the global ShelterBox network since 2010. We have a team of over 120 volunteers across the country who share their passion with us and help us raise awareness and fundraise across the country. There are ten Canadian ShelterBox Response Team members who work tirelessly with the rest of the International Response Team to deliver aid to families who need it around the world. To learn more about our board and staff click here .
ShelterBox and Rotary are official project partners in international disaster relief. ShelterBox is a registered charity independent of Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation. Since 2012, we have been neighbours, friends and community leaders. Their aim is to create positive, lasting change in communities at home and all over the world.project partners with Rotary International, a global community of 1.2 million. Rotary has supported ShelterBox from the start when a local club championed the simple idea to package up essential shelter items in our now-iconic ShelterBoxes. As ShelterBox grew, so did Rotary support, and we are now international project partners in disaster relief. This partnership has helped us to become who we are today. Our global network of ShelterBox affiliates, which provides all-round assistance, evolved from Rotary relationships.
.png)
2010 Winston Park Drive, Suite 200, Oakville, ON, L6H 5R7
Email: support@shelterboxcanada.org Telephone: 647.695.1339
Is your club interested in having a ShelterBox Presentation at an upcoming meeting? Let us know at support@shelterboxcanada.org