Charles Dollar: Ambassador for ShelterBox

At the January 6 noon meeting of the Rotary Club of Lawrenceville, members heard a report by ShelterBox ambassador Charles Dollar. The mission of ShelterBox is “to deliver humanitarian relief in the form of equipment and materials that bring shelter, warmth and dignity to people affected by natural and other disasters worldwide.” After discussing his personal path to becoming an Ambassador, Charles described the history of the ShelterBox international program; described how the boxes were deployed to such disaster areas as Syrian refugee camps, Haiti, Ethiopia, and the Philippines; discussed the scope of the program; and explained what this club or individuals could do to help. The $1,000 boxes, which contain a tent, blankets, cooking utensils and stove, a tool kit, and children’s packs, have been delivered to homeless refugees since 1998. He emphasized the efficient funding of the group, where the bulk of the contribution goes into stocking the boxes.