Thanks for taking the time to visit my page for ShelterBox a UK founded charity strongly supported by Rotary International, that provides shelter, warmth and dignity for those affected by disasters around the world.

Having qualified as a ShelterBox Response Team member, I can't believe that in the 3 short weeks that have passed since then, there have been so many natural disasters taking the lives and homes of thousands of people around the globe. 

At the moment there are ShelterBox Response Team members delivering humanitarian aid in Manilla (typhoon/flooding), Samoa (tsunami), Sumatra (earthquake), West Africa (flooding) and other parts of the Phillipines.  So far the charity has helped over 150,000 people affected by these disasters since Oct 2009.  This will mean a huge drain on the stocks of ShelterBoxes being held around the world - so  our contributions will make all the difference in keeping the provision of shelter, warmth and dignity flowing.

Rather than sit on my hands while I wait for my vaccination programme to be completed, I thought the least I could do is share with you knowledge of how we can help in ensuring the lifesaving and valuable work of ShelterBox can be continued.  I'm pleased to say I'll soon be innoculated against almost everything known to man and can be of more practical help.

If you want more information about exactly what's going on, then the ShelterBox website is always up to date with last minute information at www.shelterbox.org

Please join me in helping to support those less fortunate than we are lucky enough to be, by donating whatever you can afford.  Rest assured that well over 90% of what you donate will actually go to help disaster victim families, often where there is no adult head of the household. 

The donations provide a specially designed tent, blankets, cooking equipment and water purification aids to ensure a family of 10 or more will survive the awful conditions in which they've been placed.  In making a donation you will be joining the contribution made by thousands of ShelterBox VOLUNTEERS donating money, undertaking fundraising activities, packing the boxes, or delivering them to worldwide disaster sites and teaching the victims how to make best use of them. 

A ShelterBox that helps a family of 10 costs about £490 to purchase and deliver to a disaster zone.  Each box is numbered and you can follow the progress of the box you help to purchase on the ShelterBox website, so you know how your donation has helped a real family at time of greatest need.  The boxes are delivered to disaster sites by Response Team volunteers, from pre-positioned stocks around the world so they get to beneficiaries within a day or so of a disaster having occurred.

Any amount you can give will be gratefully recieved and I'll keep this site posted with the allocated box numbers as we manage to achieve each one. So far the numbers on the boxes we've contributed towards purchasing through this site include:

38692, 38708, 38326, 38379, 38988 & 38989. 

Checking the Shelterbox website will tell you where these boxes go in the world. That way you can see exactly where your contribution goes.  Hopefully within a few weeks I will be making a personal delivery of our boxes to deserving families, to return with pictures and details of exactly who you've helped.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - we all raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please donate whatever you can afford now.

Thank you for your time and contribution

David Hatcher

(New) ShelterBox Response Team Member - Rotary Club of Medway