Community Rotary Club responds to Turkish disaster relief

BY Chris Loat

The Rotary Club of West Vancouver Sunrise is coordinating a ShelterBox fundraiser for those impacted by the earthquakes in Turkey. The Rotary Clubs of West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Li ons Gate and Bowen Island and the Interact Clubs of Rockridge, Carson Graham, and Windsor are partnering with Park Royal Shopping Centre.

A ShelterBox display was set up in the Park Royal Shopping Centre atrium from February 7 to 9 to receive ShelterBox sponsorships. Consul General for Turkey, Mr. Taylan Tok mak, West Vancouver MP, Patrick Weiler, Mayor Mark Sager and councillors, and Shel terBox Canada’s vice chair, Marni Rabasso, were in attendance to provide support.

International humanitarian organization, ShelterBox has an emergency response team in Gaziantep. ShelterBox has previously responded to earthquakes in Turkey and has been supporting Syrian refugees for the past 11 years.

“These tragic earthquakes have caused historic destruction in an area already home senting an immediate risk to those who are afraid to return home, to those who have no homes, and to those desperately seeking news of missing loved ones.

“Our teams are working around the clock to move aid into the affected regions,” says Alice Jefferson, head of emergency response.

“We are aware that this will be one of the cover and rebuild their homes after disaster. It is currently responding to flooding in Pakistan, the war in Ukraine, drought in Eastern Africa, and in conflict areas within Yemen, the Syrian region, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Mozambique.

To sponsor a ShelterBox for Turkey disaster relief, visit shelterboxcanada.org.