18 January 2010

What's Inside The Box




You may notice a button off the the right. A group of friends is buying a Shelter Box. If you would like to join in, please just push the button to go to our collection site as each box costs about $800.  Or if you would like to form your own group or buy a box on your own, you can go to the Shelter Box site. £6.30 is the equivalent of $10.00

What's inside the box?

Shelter


At the heart of every ShelterBox is a ten-person tent. It is custom made for ShelterBox by Vango, one of the world’s leading tent manufacturers, and is designed to withstand extreme temperatures, high winds and heavy rainfall. Internally, each tent has privacy partitions that allow recipients to divide the space as they see fit.

A smile

Every box contains a children’s pack containing drawing books, crayons and pens. For children who have lostmost, if not all,their possessions, these small gifts are treasured.
Warmth and protection

In addition to the tent, the boxes contain a range of other survival equipment including thermal blankets and insulated ground sheets, essential in areas where temperatures plummet at nightfall. Where malaria is prevalent mosquito nets are supplied, as well a life saving means of water purification. Water supplies often become contaminated after a major disaster, as infrastructure and sanitation systems are destroyed, this presents a secondary but no less dangerous threat to survivors than the initial disaster itself.
Self sufficiency

A basic tool kit containing a hammer, axe, saw, trenching shovel, hoe head, pliers and wire cutters can be found in every box. These items enable people to improve their immediate environment, by chopping firewood or digging a latrine, for example. Then, when it is possible, to start repairing or rebuilding the home they were forced to leave.
Fit for purpose

Every item is durable, practical and brand new. The box itself is lightweight and waterproof and has been used for a variety of purposes in the past - from water and food storage containers to a cot for a newly born baby.
Only new equipment is used and is carefully selected for durability, practicality and suitability for where it is needed. Tough, lightweight and waterproof, the box itself can also have many useful functions from food container to cot. We also continually work with a range of manufacturers to improve the quality and extend the range of equipment that we have available.

A range of equipment is kept in stock. This lets us adjust the contents of the box according to local conditions and what is most urgently needed. Sometimes particularly if other resources are available locally and the overwhelming need is for shelter we will just send tents and pack two in each box.

Each box costs an average of £490 including all materials, packing, storage and distribution to individual recipients worldwide. Based on six months use only this equates to 27 pence per person per day.

5 comments:

Dianne said...

I came over from 'Are We There Yet' to check out the tune post

I have seen bits and pieces about Shelter Box but your post is so put together and so clear

Thank You!! for explaining and for setting up a group to buy a box

I've been giving to Doctors Without Borders but when the next client finally pays me I will send some money to shelter box

I am going to post about them and I am going to include a link to this post since you make it all so clear

Peace

maryt/theteach said...

Jamie, this is a wonderful idea! Everytime I think of it I text "Haiti" to 90999. That donates $10.00 to Haiti and charges your phone bill. I keep the Haitian people in my heart everyday... especially today with another 6.something aftershock.

maryt/theteach said...

BTW I'm glad you like my cupcake header... It's a store-bought cupcake though. It was delicious! :)

Travis Cody said...

This is a practical donation alternative. Thanks for the information. I didn't know about this option.

Shelly Kneupper Tucker said...

Oh, girl! This is an Only The Good post if I ever saw one! Fantastic. I need you to guest post tomorrow with this. Can I quote you? Or would you rather write something? As if I thought you had time to whip some writing out at the snap of a finger.