Parker Rotary Club Raises Over $22,500 For Earthquake Relief

PARKER, Colo. — Today  the international disaster relief organization ShelterBox USA thanked the Rotary Club of Parker, Colorado, for a record-setting effort that raised more than $22,500 in one week to help fund ShelterBox’s response to the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.  

The fundraising total was the most the Rotary Club of Parker has raised for ShelterBox in its history. It will help ShelterBox meet the emergency shelter needs of thousands of people who have lost their homes.   

“We are deeply grateful for the efforts of the Rotary Club of Parker,” said ShelterBox USA President Kerri Murray, who is also a Rotarian. “This is truly what Rotary is all about – Service Above Self. These funds will provide shelter and life-saving items to families across the world who lost everything in an instant during this catastrophic disaster.”  

Since it was founded more than 20 years ago by a Rotary Club in England, ShelterBox has provided shelter and other essential items around the world to more than 2.5 million people forced from their homes by disaster and conflict. It is currently responding to the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, the war in Ukraine, flooding in Pakistan, and elsewhere.   

The Rotary Club of Parker, Colorado, has supported ShelterBox for years, donating $1,000 annually and more through additional fundraising initiatives when large disasters have struck. Last week’s fundraising drive was also fueled by a member of the Rotary Club of Parker who pledged to match donations through his family foundation. The club’s successful fundraising effort was consequently achieved through contributions from individual club members and non-club members, matching funds, the Rotary Club of Parker Foundation and the club’s annual contribution to ShelterBox.  

The club said that in the aftermath of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, many members were desperately looking for ways to help the families who lost their homes. They found ShelterBox to be the perfect avenue to support. 

ShelterBox is the official project partner for disaster relief of Rotary International, a relationship that helps ShelterBox deliver aid quickly and effectively after disasters by drawing on the expertise of local Rotary Clubs.