When the members of the Springfield Elementary School junior Beta Club sponsored a coin collection to benefit the earthquake victims in Haiti, they knew it was a good thing to do, but they probably didn’t really know how their money would be spent.

Working together, the students at SES collected a total of $3,827.87 and on Friday, they will get to see exactly what that money was used for.
Ross Spencer, a ShelterBox USA representative and Rotary Club member, will visit South Effingham High School on Thursday and Springfield Elementary on Friday where, with the help of students, he will set up one of ShelterBox’s large tents now being used in Haiti to provide temporary housing for the earthquake victims.  

The tents will be set up in front of the schools beginning about an hour before school lets out. Students will get an opportunity to visit the tents and see for themselves how their donations were used to help people in need. Parents and the community are also welcome to visit the schools and see the contents of a ShelterBox kit.

ShelterBox is the only national aid organization that provides shelter and life-saving equipment. They instantly respond to earthquake, volcano, flood, hurricane, cyclone, tsunami or conflict and have helped with over 100 disasters in more than 60 countries. Highly trained ShelterBox Response Teams distribute the boxes on the ground, working closely with local organizations, international aid agencies and Rotary clubs worldwide.

Each box supplies an extended family of up to 10 people with a tent and lifesaving equipment to use while they are displaced or homeless. The contents are tailored depending on the nature and location of the disaster, with great care taken sourcing every item to ensure it is robust enough to be of lasting value.

The cost of a box is around $1,000, including direct delivery to those who need it. In addition, each box bears its own unique number so donors can track their box all the way to its recipient country via the Web site.