Skokie Valley Rotary Club offer support to natural disasters

Around the world, or here in Illinois, the Rotary Club of Skokie Valley is helping people cope and survive natural disasters. In the Philippines, Typhoon Haiyan on November 7th left many homeless.  The Rotary Club of Skokie Valley is sending a ShelterBox equipped to provide basic shelter, warmth and protection for self-sufficiency. Here in Illinois, the Club is helping those affected by the downstate tornado, which hit on Sunday, November 17th.

In the Philippines or around the world,  a shelter box provides emergency shelter and life-saving equipment following disasters such as earthquake, volcano, flood, hurricane, tsunami or conflict. The contents are tailored depending on the nature and location of the disaster. Great care is taken to insure each ShelterBox can create self-sufficiency.  

Rotary charities recognized that many aid organizations provide food, water and medical care, but without protection from the elements, survivors are at a higher risk.  Proper shelter to help them through the first few days, weeks and months is essential to rebuilding their lives.

 Highly trained ShelterBox Response Teams distribute boxes on the ground, working closely with local organizations, international aid agencies and a global network of volunteers including Rotary members.  Thermal blankets, insulated ground sheets, water purification, water storage containers, tools, multi-fuel stove, pans, utensils, bowls, mugs, a children’s pack containing drawing books, crayons and other supplies are included within a ShelterBox.

In Downstate Illinois, the Rotary Club of Skokie Valley is sending money directly to the Rotary Club in Washington, Illinois that is providing relief services to residents.   Ross Mathee, President the Rotary Club of Skokie Valley says he wants to thank all this members and those people who support the Rotary Club by attending the Pancake Breakfast, the Taste of Skokie Valley or buying their holiday plants through Rotary.

“All these fundraisers have their benefit and help people, locally or internationally,” Mathee said.

The Rotary Club of Skokie Valley helps charities like, THE ARC, A Just Harvest Soup Kitchen, Niles Township Food Pantry, American Cancer Society, USO of Illinois, Metropolitan Family Service, End Polio Now, Orchard Village, Golf Marine Park District, Summer Foundation, Building Together, DECA, Skokie NorthShore Hospital, VITA and more locally and internationally.

Rotary Clubs serve communities around the world on a broad range of service projects.  Since 1985 Polio eradication has been a major objective of Rotary.

The Skokie Valley Rotary meets every Tuesday at 12:15 at McCormick & Schmick's Restaurant at Old Orchard Shopping Center. New members are always welcome. The meetings are short and productive often including a guest speaker with topics pertaining to members’ primary business or their Rotary involvement.

For information on joining Rotary, visit the Rotary website at http://www.skokierotary.org or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SkokieValleyRotary