District 6780 - *Haiti Earthquake Relief* - How Clubs & Rotarians Can Help

6780 CLUB ACTIONS

So far the Cleveland Rotary Club has designated $1500 for Haiti Relief.

Oak Ridge Breakfast Club showed a video clip about Rotary's ShelterBox project at its 1/20/2010 meeting. Afterward, Rtn. Henry Perry personally funded one box, the club's board voted to fund another, and $700 was donated/pledged toward a third by club members. Since then, the club members have completed fundraising for that box and stared on another; Rtns. Bonnie Carroll and Albert Beasley have funded two more boxes, and Rtn. Freda Hopper's church has funded another.

The Cookville Breakfast Club raised $2008.90, half at a collection table outside Walmart and half by passing the hat in their club meeting. The money is being sent to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund established by Rotary International.

The Chattanooga Hamilton Place Club has commited to at least $12,000 to the efforts in Haiti!

The Tullahoma Noon Club donated $1000 to Shelter Box to help in the Haiti effort

The Rotary Club of Oak Ridge mailed a check for $2000 January 16, 2010, to Shelterbox USA for two shelter boxes to help in the relief effort for Haiti.

The District Disaster Committee recommends these ways to help with the immediate needs in Haiti:

ROTARY DONOR ADVISED FUND:

The Rotary Foundation has established the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund for U.S. Rotarian's who want to donate toward recovery efforts after a powerful earthquake rocked Haiti on 12 January.

RI President John Kenny and Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair Glenn E. Estess Sr. have sent a joint letter conveying Rotary's condolences to victims of the quake and asking for more information on how Rotarian's can help.

The Haitian Red Cross is estimating that more than 50,000 people are dead and millions more injured after the quake, the impoverished nation’s strongest in 200 years, crumbled government buildings, hospitals, schools, and shantytowns. Most of the capital, Port-au-Prince, is in ruins.

Click here to find out more about the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund

SHELTER BOX

Shelter Box is another excellent way for Rotary Clubs or individuals to support immediate relief efforts. This organization has an ecellent track record of getting aid to people very quickly. If you donate today, your sponsored shelter box may very well be in the disaster zone tomorrow. Begun by a Rotarian, you can trust that this organization operates on a Rotary model.

A ShelterBox response team has already mobilized to deliver 500 containers of supplies to the affected areas. Each container provides a tent, a stove, a water purification kit, blankets, tools, and other necessities to help a family of 10 survive for six months.

For more information on Shelter Box click here: http://www.shelterbox.org/home.htm

Click here for donations in the United States.

The committee may add ways to help as conditions change in Haiti. Also, check the "District 6780 in Haiti" page for organizations that clubs in the district may be working with in the disaster area.