Shelterbox have been chosen by Eastleigh District as this year’s adopted charity. To a packed Baptist Church, filled with nearly 600 young people and leaders, David McGregor (District Commissioner) revealed the details of the fundraising efforts planned for the coming year.
The early part of 2010 has seen several major disasters around the globe, and it is through the Shelterbox charity, that humanitarian aid has been delivered in the form of rapidly deployed survival kits containing the essential items to support up to 10 people. Each kit contains a tent, cooking equipment, water treatment tablets and other equipment that can support the ‘extended family’ for up to 6 months.
The plan is to raise money in blocks of ￡490. Each ￡490 will buy one box, which can be tracked through the Shelterbox website allowing the young people of Eastleigh to see exactly where there fundraising efforts have been put to use.
As part of a National Scouting initiative, there are many exciting opportunities available in the coming year, including the chance for some Scout Network members to train with the Shelterbox organisation. This training could then be put in to practice by actually helping to deploy some of these boxes to the next disaster that requires assistance.
David McGregor said “This is a wonderful chance for the young people of Eastleigh to actually make a difference to the lives of people affected by disaster around the world. The ideals of the Shelterbox initiative work so closely with those of Scouting that it makes sense to us to help them however we can.”
After the launch, Ian Hayes-Anderson, District Chaplain confirmed that the Baptist Church wished to help with the fundraising by guaranteeing to raise the money for 1 further box. This promise was matched by Chandlers Ford District, who made a commitment to also raise money to buy a number of Shelterboxes.
The collection made during the service made a tremendous start to this year’s efforts with over ￡240 (almost half the cost of the first Shelterbox) being donated.
For more details of Shelterbox look at www.shelterbox.org
