Wednesday 9 January 2013

Samoa and Philippines Benefit from Christmas Puddings

The Rotary Club of Orewa, NZ decided following the two recent disasters in Samoa and the Philippines that the proceeds from their very successful Rotary Christmas Pudding Project will go towards providing one ShelterBox for the Philippines and two Emergency Response Kits (ERKs) for Samoa”, says Doug Parker, the club’s Co-ordinator for Christmas Puddings sales.

Cyclone Evan struck Samoa with three people reported dead, 200 injured by flying debris and 3000 forced from their homes. The ERKs will help people get re-established.

In the Philippines over 700 people are believed to be dead, with almost another 800 missing and Typhoon Bopha destroyed 80,000 homes. ShelterBoxes provide temporary housing for ten people with all the necessary equipment such as sleeping bags, multifuel stove, cooking utensils, mosquito nets, groundsheets, various tools and even children’s school supplies - all the essential basics a family would require.
 


Photo courtesy of Rodney Times   

Photo caption: Maygrove Retirement Village resident Heather Nicholson thoroughly enjoys her Rotary Christmas pudding, and she is thrilled that the proceeds are helping victims of the Samoa and Philippines cyclone and typhoon disasters. 
The Orewa Rotary Club over the past five years have provided 11 such ShelterBoxes to countries hit by disasters, and their aim is to provide two ShelterBoxes each year to disaster ravaged countries.

Doug says that it is only through the club’s fundraising activities and the tremendous support Rotary receives from the people in the local community that we are able to achieve this, and also help other charities.

456 Rotary Christmas puddings were sold, which allowed the club to donate one ShelterBox (NZ$1500) and two ERKs ($600 each).  Two more ERKs were donated by Orewa Rotarian Rod and Judy Townsend. 


-       Submitted by Doug Parker, Rotary Club of Orewa, New Zealand