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Port Chester-Rye Brook Rotary Club
Text Box:  Port Chester - Rye Brook Rotary Club Thank you for your interest in our event and in our efforts to help Haiti. The following are some points of interest: The ShelterBox package includes basic survival supplies for an extended family of ten: 10-person tent, sleeping bags, insulated ground sheets, water purification tablets, portable stove, cooking utensils, basic tool kit, children’s kit etc. Each ShelterBox, including all administration expenses, costs US$1,000 delivered. Our event, held on Thursday, January 28th, was a wonderful success in several ways: It was attended by a wonderful cross-section of community from every direction – more than a hundred people - everybody from neighbors to local community leaders, to Rotarians from Manhattan, to One World members from Long Island – there was a terrific atmosphere of goodwill, generosity, and satisfaction with being able to help. We set up a (ShelterBox) tent, along with all the equipment, outside the restaurant, for people to see it for themselves. All of the food was paid for by Tandoori, Taste of India, (proprietor, Bharat Patel) who hosted everybody with a graciousness, hospitality, and generosity, that’s second to none. Our promotional material (signs and fliers) was all sponsored by Costco – a great example of a corporation making a wonderful community contribution – they deserve a lot of credit. On the evening, we raised in excess of $6,000, 100% of which will go direct to ShelterBox Apart from the above reference, ALL of the contributions were from individuals – as of yet, we have not sought any Corporate sponsorship. In the future, to expand on our aid to Haiti, we hope to partner with Engineers without Borders and Habitat for Humanity. Peter Grunthal of Mount Kisco Rotary Club, and Rotary’s local representative for ShelterBox talked about the history and details of ShelterBox, an enormous Rotary Service Project. Soledad Kaplan, of the Inwood Rotary Club, just returned from Haiti, where she spent a week volunteering, addressed our group and told us of her experiences in Port au Prince. Jim Killoran, of Habitat for Humanity, was also scheduled to join us, but was delayed on his return from Haiti – he called in during the evening, from the airport, to wish us luck, and give us more details of what’s happening there, and Habitat’s plans for the future. During the evening, we also spoke to Jim Kushner, of the Inwood Rotary Club, by telephone, for an update. Jim leads Rotary’s Haiti Relief Team from Inwood Rotary Club and is still in Haiti. All contributions are tax-deductable – Port Chester Rye Brook Rotary Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Also, each ShelterBox is given a unique serial number which can be subsequently tracked to determine its destination – we will issue these numbers as soon as they’re available. The Port Chester-Rye Brook Rotary Club has set a goal of $10,000 for Rotary ShelterBox aid for Haiti - in theory, sufficient to provide shelter and means of survival for one hundred people. Both personally, and on behalf of our club, and Tandoori Restaurant, I would like to express our most sincere thanks to everybody who participated, donated, and supported, this effort. Though what we are doing may not be substantial in the face of the enormous suffering facing the people of Haiti, we will know that we have helped to provide shelter and a degree of dignity to several families – and of that we can be proud and grateful. Thank you again for your interest. Please call if you have any questions. Sincerely,   Club President, 2009-10  (914) 774-9878