Rotarians pitching in to relieve Haitian earthquake misery

Mosgiel Rotarians might be a comfortable 14,000km from the devastation of earthquake-stricken Haiti, but they are still managing to lend a helping hand.

For the past three years, the Rotary Club of Mosgiel has been the New Zealand centre for a British organisation that provides "ShelterBoxes" to victims of disasters.

A ShelterBox contains basic equipment for 10 people, including a tent, blankets, cooking utensils and water containers.

Each weighs 56kg and costs $1500.

Mosgiel co-ordinator Graham Beach said yesterday the Mosgiel club, with the support of about half the Rotary clubs around New Zealand, had raised $1.25 million for the boxes.

Mr Beach said 256 boxes had arrived in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince and another 1000 were waiting to leave Miami.

One of the volunteers involved in delivering the boxes, Mark Pearson, reported back to the organisation on Saturday from Port-au-Prince there was "utter chaos" at the city's airport, with buildings completely destroyed.

ShelterBox New Zealand has launched an appeal for donations, through the National Bank.

About 20 of the boxes are being put on display around the country and one will be set up at the Taieri A and P Show this weekend.

ShelterBoxes has delivered nearly 60,000 boxes to emergencies in 57 countries since it was founded in 2000 by Royal Navy search and rescue diver, and Rotarian, Tom Henderson.

Mr Henderson, who was awarded an OBE in the New Year's honours list for his humanitarian work, is due to meet the Mosgiel ShelterBox team when he visits on May 12.

mark.price@odt.co.nz