Putting familes on their feet

By Emma Sun
DISASTER Aid Australia is calling for donations to give people living in impoverished countries much-needed help.
The organisation, started by the Rotary Club of Endeavour Hills, sends out aid in the form of a Family Survival Pack filled with essential supplies or Water Purification Systems.
The Disaster Aid box has an eight-person tent, the largest humanitarian aid tent available, blankets, water containers, ground sheets, mosquito nets, rebuilding tools, a multi-fuel stove, pots, pans and stainless steel cutlery, soap and things for the children.
The box itself is a carpenter’s workbench, complete with wheels and a handle to make it easily transportable.
Volunteer Jenni Heenan said all items in the box were practical and aimed to help families and the community as much as possible.
“The tent itself is not only the largest, it’s an inter-connectable tent that has three openings,” she said.
“With three openings, we put four of them together and we can either form a school for 80 school children, a hospital or a community centre – there are so many different ways we can utilise our product.”
While the tent is classified as an eight-person tent, Ms Heenan said it could easily fit a family of 15 comfortably.
“When we go into a disaster zone, we can put the family back together as a family unit,” she said.
Ms Heenan encourages everyone to make a donation and help the cause, no matter how big or small the donation may be.
“With $800, we can supply a fully deployed family supply box and $5000 will get a water box that can provide clean water for 10 years,” Ms Heenan said.
“$2500 can get a school for up to 80 school children, which includes a teacher’s pack, with things like a blackboard and chalkboard and rucksacks for the children, who have everything they need for school.”
Boxes can be tracked and Disaster Aid will endeavour to provide the donor with a photograph of the family in their new home.
For more information or to donate, visit www.disasteraidaustralia.org.au call 1300 881 913.