Sequim Sunrise Rotary raises $25k for ShelterBox Ukraine relief

By Matthew Nash • May 25, 2022 1:30 am
Photo courtesy Sequim Sunrise Rotary Club members of the Sequim Sunrise Rotary recently raised $25,000 to purchase supplies like these for ShelterBox to help Ukrainian refugees with emergency supplies.
Photo courtesy Sequim Sunrise Rotary Club members of the Sequim Sunrise Rotary recently raised $25,000 to purchase supplies like these for ShelterBox to help Ukrainian refugees with emergency supplies.

By Sequim Sunrise Rotary

For the Sequim Gazette

Sequim Sunrise Rotary members raised $25,000 for ShelterBox Ukraine — along with more than $23,000 for local community service projects and scholarship. — at their annual fundraising auction on April 30.

The Sequim club has been involved with ShelterBox since 2008 and leads the world in Rotary ShelterBox Club contributions with more than $191,000, club members said.

ShelterBox, a Rotary Project Partner in disaster relief, is a rapid response disaster aid organization that the United Nations recognizes for its speed in deploying and assessing local situations. Boxes are customized for the country, climate, and type of crisis so that the assistance fits the need.

Through Rotary’s 35,000 clubs in more than 145 countries, Rotarians can provide ShelterBox with logistical ground support and/or local information.

The volunteer ShelterBox Response Teams were trained to assess the Ukraine, Poland and Moldavia situation, and were on the ground a week after the invasion as the refugees began to pour over the border into those neighboring countries, local club members said.

To support ShelterBox, send a check to Sequim Sunrise Rotary Foundation, P.O Box 1521, Sequim, WA. 98382; indicate ShelterBox in the memo. Both Sequim Sunrise and ShelterBox are 501(c)3 nonprofit charities.