ShelterBox was founded to provide shelter, warmth and dignity to people affected by disasters and humanitarian crises around the world.  

In April 2000, the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard in Cornwall, England adopted ShelterBox as its millennium project. Little did they know that it would become the largest Rotary club project in the world, with affiliates in countries across the globe.

In 2002, ShelterBox's American affiliate was adopted as a project of the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch in Sarasota, Fla. In 2004, ShelterBox USA was officially established as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.   
 
The first consignment of 143 boxes was sent to earthquake victims in India in January 2001. Over the next three years, the project matured, and by the end of 2004, nearly 2,600 boxes had been dispatched, following 16 major disasters. On December 26, 2004, news came of the devastating Indian Ocean Tsunami and ShelterBox faced its most significant challenge, one that would change its course forever. Donations and volunteers poured in and ShelterBox was able to ramp their operations on a scale unimaginable just six months earlier.

In 2005, ShelterBox sent out more than 22,000 boxes, almost 10 times the number delivered in the previous three years. Not only were they sending aid to survivors of the tsunami, but they were also able to help those who had lost their homes to Hurricane Katrina in the USA and the massive earthquake that hit the Kashmir region of Pakistan. In just a few short months, ShelterBox had emerged as a major player in the field of international disaster relief.

Since then, ShelterBox has worked in numerous countries around the globe, responding to earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, typhoons, hurricanes, volcanoes and conflict.
 
Each ShelterBox is custom-packed depending on the needs of those affected by the disaster but often contains a family tent, water filter, blankets, cooking and eating utensils, tools, children’s activity pack, mosquito net and other items.Each ShelterBox weighs 120 pounds and the cost of one ShelterBox kit is $1,000 (US). ShelterBox does accept donations of all sizes, which are compiled with others to fund an entire box. If you choose to support a ShelterBox, you will be assigned a box number, which will allow you to see where it was delivered. 
 
Each year, the Canton Rotary Charitable Fund designates at least $1,000 to purchase 1 ShelterBox and in some years, when a major disaster has struck in the U.S. we have purchased more than 1 ShelterBox.
 
To date, we have raised $9,475.74 from Club members for the Canton Rotary Charitable fund. We have also received very kind donations from the Stark County Auto Dealers and employees of Medicine Center Pharmacy for a total of $10,100.74. Thank you all who have donated so far. We are halfway to our goal. 
 
Now that the holidays are over, if you have not contributed yet, please consider making a donation. This fund is what makes us the Rotary Club. We are here to do good in the world. Without this fund, we are just a group of people getting together for lunch and listening to a speaker. I know Rotary means more to you than that. I know you want to make a difference. Without these funds we cannot be the finest Rotary Club in the world. Let’s live up to our reputation of greatness!