Funds aid war refugees still in Ukraine as well as those who have fled the country

The Rotary Club of Ashland donated $1,975 to ShelterBox USA at their March 22 meeting to provide emergency shelter and essential household items for Ukrainians who have left the country as well as those who are now displaced internally within Ukraine.

ShelterBox is Rotary International’s partner for Disaster Response. They have a team on the ground in Poland working with their partners in Ukraine to support those affected and are working closely with Rotary, the U.N. and other international aid organizations to ensure that, together, they provide the right kind of assistance in the right place, at the right time, to the people who need it most.

ShelterBox is providing mattresses to provide warmth and comfort for people sleeping on the cold floor in schools, sports centers and other collection centers. For people forced to live in damaged buildings, they are preparing aid packages of shelter repair kits with tarpaulins and tools to seal up holes in the structure, hygiene kits, heavy thermal blankets, solar lights, and water carriers to help people survive without heat, power, or running water.

People who have become refugees in neighboring countries are on the move and are not able to carry much. So ShelterBox will provide the most essential items that people can take with them, such as hygiene items and warm winter jackets.

According to the U.N., 12 million people currently need lifesaving humanitarian assistance. You can learn more about ShelterBox’s efforts in Ukraine and make a donation at shelterboxusa.org. You can learn more about the Rotary Club of Ashland at ashlandrotary.org.

Source: News release from The Rotary Club of Ashland. Email Ashland.news Executive Editor Bert Etling at betling@ashland.news or call or text him at 541-631-1313.