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Raising Money
Members of the Putnam Rotary Club's Interact Club build their shelters in June in Rotary Park --- part of a fund-raising effort to raise money for Shelter Boxes. Pam Brown photo.
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Regional Interact Club made a decision two years ago to help shelter victims of hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. Born out of this idea, they implemented a ‘homeless and hunger” project to raise money to purchase Shelter Boxes towards this goal and this year raised almost $1,500.
Local Interact Group raises money for Shelter Box. The project involves sleeping in Rotary Park, in corrugated boxes, with no electronics, phones, or food. All the teens are allowed to bring are sleeping bags, blankets, water, and tarps. Any food and monetary donations they receive would come from the kindness of strangers. The project begins at 5 p.m. and ends at 8 the next morning. On June 18, approximately 20 teen participated in this year’s project, raising $1,461 from donations from local community members. The teens voted to supplement the additional $39 from their treasury to bring the total to an even $1,500 which will allow them to purchase one Shelter Box, and be halfway towards the purchase of another. This will be added to the five previous boxes that the teens have purchased for Shelter Box, Inc.
Shelter Box, Inc. is a non-profit organization, sponsored by Rotary International, that provides large plastic containers all over the world to victims of natural disaster who are in need of shelter to protect them from disease and the elements. Each box contains a large three room tent and sleeping apparatus to shelter up to ten adults for six months or more. Included in the box is a water purification system, a cooking stove, pots, pans, dishes, shovels, axes, knives, flashlights, and other items necessary for survival. The empty box, which is airtight, can be used to store food. Each box is packed for the area that it being shipped to, and cost $1,000 including shipping costs to its destination. www.shelterboxusa.org.
The Putnam Regional Interact Club is comprised of teens in grades 8 through 12, who attend school in the Putnam, Woodstock, Thompson, Eastford, and Putnam areas and is sponsored by the Putnam Rotary Club. For info contact Karen Osbrey at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Pam Brown at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..