Collections on two consecutive Saturdays by two Rotary Clubs working together, saw sufficient funds raised for two ShelterBoxes!

As part of the Indonesia Tsunami Appeal, members of Kingsbridge Rotary Club, who meet on Monday lunchtimes, and Kingsbridge Estuary Rotary Club, who meet on Tuesday evenings, held collections on both October 6 at Tesco and again on October 13 at Morrisons.

Thanks to the generosity of the local community, the rotary clubs will now be able to cover the cost of two ShelterBoxes at £590 each.

After a 7.5 magnitude earthquake and deadly tsunami have left at least 2,000 people dead in Sulawesi Island, ShelterBoxes and the ShelterBox response team on the ground in Indonesia are a lifeline for the survivors – the challenges are huge as the whole island of Sulawesi is devastated, roads are blocked, and communications are down.

The ShelterBox charity working with Rotary and the Indonesian Government are helping vulnerable families who have lost everything in this disaster – finding ways to reach them and getting essential aid through to them, items like tents, ShelterKits made up of tarpaulins and tool kits, as well as water filters and blankets so that families living out in the open can create a space to sleep and to eat, to feel safe and protected, and to start rebuilding their lives.

David Horne, international committee chair of Kingsbridge Estuary Rotary Club, said: “On behalf of both Clubs, we would like to express our gratitude to both Tesco’s and Morrisons for permitting us to collect at their premises and, of course, to the local community for their fantastic generosity once again in donating to such a good cause.

“Without this support, ShelterBox could not continue to provide essential aid in disaster hit areas across the world. Often the first aid agency in to a disaster zone with their ShelterBoxes and emergency kits, these need to be constantly replaced and replenished to ensure the charity is ready to meet the next crisis.

“Members of both Kingsbridge based Rotary Clubs are delighted to have been able to help them in this way.”

To find out more about ShelterBox and the amazing work they do, visit www.shelterbox.org