Rotary Club of Chattanooga Hears About Global Disaster Relief Efforts

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)— Imagine losing your home in minutes after a hurricane or earthquake. That was the message shared during a recent meeting of the Rotary Club of Chattanooga, where members learned how an international organization is helping families recover after disasters.

Kihyon “Kim” Kim with ShelterBox spoke to the group about the nonprofit’s mission to provide emergency shelter and supplies to people who have lost their homes.

Kim explained that while the tents provided by ShelterBox are meant to be temporary, many families rely on them for extended periods while working to rebuild their lives.

“It’s a temporary tent, but depending on the situation it can take people a long time to rebuild their lives,” Kim said.

ShelterBox provides disaster survivors with essential supplies such as tents, tools, cooking equipment, and school materials. The items are packed inside large green boxes designed to help families meet basic needs after losing everything.

“When disasters strike, people can lose everything they have,” Kim said. “Inside the ShelterBox there’s a tent, cooking equipment, a stove, and school supplies to help families get started again.”

Kim also discussed the partnership between ShelterBox and Rotary International, which allows the organizations to work together to support communities impacted by disasters worldwide.

According to Kim, the partnership began when a Rotarian introduced the idea of supporting ShelterBox to his local club.

“He submitted the idea to his club, and they thought it was a great idea and adopted it,” Kim said. “It shows how one Rotarian and one club can make a global impact.”

ShelterBox and Rotary International continue to collaborate on disaster relief efforts, helping provide emergency shelter to families recovering from crises around the world.