Residents of earthquake-ravaged Port-au-Prince, Haiti, are in need of shelter, and North Olympic Peninsula Rotary Clubs are stepping up efforts to fill that need through contributions to ShelterBox, an international disaster relief program.
Jim Pickett, ShelterBox representative for Rotary District 5020, which covers Clallam and Jefferson counties, is heading the fundraising push.
Members of the group he belongs to, Rotary Club of Sequim Sunrise, on Thursday donated $15,300 to ShelterBox.
Enough to buy 15 shelters
Pickett said that was enough to fund 15 portable emergency shelters, at $1,000 each.
Rotary is among myriad organizations, including Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross, marshaling efforts on the North Olympic Peninsula to aid the impoverished island nation.
An estimated 45,000 to 50,000 died after Tuesday’s cataclysmic earthquake struck Port au Prince, a city of 2 million.
Money raised by Rotary Clubs will be sent to a club in England, where the ShelterBoxes will be assembled and sent to Haiti.
ShelterBoxes are housing units containing essential housing supplies and are sent to disaster sites around the world.
ShelterBox was recently listed on CNN as a legitimate charity assisting Haitian relief efforts.
Pickett said the boxes are escorted to the relief sites by Rotarians and trained emergency personnel.
“People can rest assured the boxes are going where we say they are going,” he said.
Response team
By Thursday, 930 Shelter Boxes were on their way to Haiti, with 1,000 more being packed.
The ShelterBox Response Team, which is completely self-sufficient, has arrived on the island and set up a base with the help of a Haitian Rotarian, according to a dispatch from the organization.
In an interview from Port-au-Prince, member David Eby said, “We’re working hard to resolve security, logistics and communications. The city is totally devastated. Our host told us, ‘There is no more Haiti.'”
Each 49-gallon green plastic box contains a 10-person tent. Some contain two tents.
Other items can include insulated sleeping mats and thermal blankets, water purification tablets, water purification kits, water containers/carriers, a trenching shovel, a multi-fueled cook stove, eating utensils and plates, a children’s activity kit and other essential items.
“Rotary encourages and invites everyone who wants to contribute to present a check to any Rotarian,” Pickett said, with “For ShelterBox” noted on the check.
Donors can also contact Pickett by phone at 360-681-4830 or by e-mail at jpick@wavecable.com.
They can donate directly at ShelterBox USA, 8374 Market St., No. 203, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202.
Doc Reiss, president of Port Angeles Nor’wester Rotary, said his club has donated $1,000 to fund one ShelterBox so far.
“We are not able to designate where the ShelterBox goes, but wherever that is, there is going to be a need,” Reiss said.
Most recently, 200 ShelterBoxes were sent to Malawi after a series of earthquakes there in December.
$100 checks
Meanwhile, pastor Darvin Jordan with the Salvation Army in Port Angeles said the organization had received nearly $8,000 by Friday afternoon, most of it coming in checks of $100 or less.
“That seems to be the amount people are the most comfortable with giving,” he said. “Donors are just grateful to know where to send money.”
He said the Salvation Army will send 100 percent of funds raised directly to Haiti, where 700 Salvation Army personnel were already on the ground as of Friday.
North Olympic Peninsula residents also are flooding the Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the American Red Cross with donations, Executive Director Michelle Kelley said.
The Peninsula Red Cross unit is coordinating donations for the relief effort through their national organization.
“We have been getting inundated with calls this morning,” she said Friday.
$37 million donated
As of Friday afternoon, the local office had received $505, Kelley said, not counting donations made on the Web site or by texting.
Nationally, $37 million had been donated to the American Red Cross by Friday, with $9 million received through $10 text messages charged by texting HAITI to 10999.
To donate to the American Red Cross locally, send checks marked “Haitian relief” to American Red Cross, Olympic Peninsula Chapter, P.O. Box 188, Carlsborg, WA 98324.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity chapters in Clallam and Jefferson counties also are directing donors to the national organization, although donations can be accepted locally.
To donate through Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County, visit http://olypen.com/hfhcc.
To donate through Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County, mail contributions marked “Haiti” to Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County, P.O. Box 658, Port Townsend WA 98368; donate online at www.habitatejc.org or drop off contributions at the Habitat for Humanity store, 2001 W. Sims Way in Port Townsend.
_______
Features editor Marcie Miller can be reached at 360-417-3550 or marcie.miller@peninsuladailynews.com.
The Peninsula Daily News will publicize additional Haitian relief efforts on the North Olympic Peninsula both in print and online.
Contact Miller at the above phone number or e-mail address, or by fax to Miller’s attention at 360-417-3521.