Rotary Community Heroes of Hope
Introducing "Rotary Community Heroes of Hope" - a podcast dedicated to showcasing the profound impact of Rotary in District 5330 and beyond. Join us as we explore the remarkable stories of rotary heroes and initiatives that are transforming communities and creating hope around the world.
Rotary Community Heroes of Hope
Shelter And Hope, Delivered
What does it take to give a family a safe night’s sleep after an earthquake, flood, or conflict? We sit down with ShelterBox ambassador and Rotarian Carol Pipotone to unpack the playbook behind rapid, credible disaster relief: durable tents, essential tools, trained response teams, and a network of partners that move aid across borders when it matters most. From a Rotary Club idea in Cornwall to a global nonprofit operating in 100 countries, this is a candid look at how shelter brings stability, privacy, and dignity back to people who lost everything.
Carol explains how safety shapes every decision in conflict zones, why ShelterBox often stages equipment at borders, and how Gaza preparations have been in place for months waiting on access. We trace the organization’s active deployments across 14 countries, with an urgent focus on the Philippines after a series of major earthquakes and a recent typhoon. You’ll hear how pre-positioned warehouses, local partnerships, and tested gear compress timelines so families aren’t waiting weeks for help. We also get practical about tent durability, real-world use beyond the intended six months, and the surprising second life of shelters as small shops that restart livelihoods.
Rotary’s role threads through the conversation—funding, communications, and trust. Carol lays out a simple, powerful challenge: recruit 25 club liaisons across District 5330 to share monthly updates that grow awareness and accelerate support. For listeners who want to help but don’t know where to start, we point to shelterboxusa.org to donate, learn, and ensure funds reach the right operation. If you care about disaster relief that is fast, accountable, and human, this story shows how one box can change the course of recovery for a family—and how a community of supporters makes that possible.
If this conversation moved you, subscribe, share it with a friend who cares about disaster relief, and leave a quick review so more people discover credible ways to help.
We are here today at the Rotary District 5330 Heroes of Hope with our good friend Carol Pipotone from Shelter Box. Hi Carol, how are you doing?
SPEAKER_02:Hi there, Judy and Nyron. Nice to see your faces. Thank you for having me on the program here. Thank you for um participating with the Shelter Box USA program. I am a Rotarian in District 5330 with the Palm Desert Club. And I'm the ambassador for Southern California District in with Shelter Box. I'm also on their ambassador council, which comprises of um maybe a dozen um ambassadors around the country, and we get together on a monthly basis uh to see how our ambassadors in our regions are doing and pass on information to them.
SPEAKER_01:Wonderful. And so just in case somebody is listening to this episode for the first time, can you give a really brief uh explanation of what is Shelter Box? What is your mission?
SPEAKER_02:Yes. Um Shelter Box is a Rotary International project partner, started in 2020. So we're 25 years old. Sorry, 19. Am I saying 2020? Yes, 20.
SPEAKER_01:Uh in the year 2000.
SPEAKER_02:We are 25 years old this year. And um it's it was an organization that was developed by a rotary club in England in uh Cornwall. Uh just an idea of one of their fundraisers to help some uh people that had lost their homes. Um, it became so big that uh they couldn't cope with it anymore, so Shelter Box became a non-profit organization on its own. It's now a worldwide um organization that helps people when they've lost everything could be due to a disaster like an earthquake, tsunami, um hurricanes, um, or conflict, which we're seeing more and more of. Um we provide um we try to provide shelter and we work alongside other organizations um to uh deliver goods to where everybody any everyone has lost everything. And a good example would be in 2010, everybody's heard of the Haiti earthquake. So we provided a lot of help and assistance to the Haitians at that time.
SPEAKER_01:I think you went down there to Haiti as well.
SPEAKER_00:I did, I did, and I saw some of the shelter box tents on the hillside. So uh I know they are, and and I was uh eternally grateful to see that, and I only learned about shelter box afterwards because it's because of Haiti that I got introduced to Rotary uh in general. But you mentioned something that was very interesting to me, Carol, and that in terms of when you're looking at conflict areas that you guys go into, what what goes into determining whether you will or won't approach any and provide supplies to any given uh conflict area? Are you looking, do you need to have, for instance, United Nations support or the support of any other types of Western nations to go into areas such as Gaza or South Sudan or Yemen or that kind of thing?
SPEAKER_02:The first uh concern is the primary, primary concern is the safety of our volunteers. We are a volunteer organization and we work with other um organizations that are in the country already, so we're not going to send down people somewhere where um, you know, you've got examples of um where there's wars being held. There's organizations that we can part we can stand on the border and send our um assets to a group that's already in the country. Um with there's a lot of um there's a lot of ways and discussions before we would ever attempt to go into a conflict area. And um there was some a few years back when uh Haiti had another earthquake actually, and uh the the volunteers, and it wasn't shelter box volunteers, but there were doctors and nurses that were being kidnapped in Haiti on the ground. And so, you know, when those occasions arrive, we have to withdraw our help, but we leave our stuff there, we leave the provisions there and hope that they get um put out to who needs them. Um but generally speaking, we would use the in-country service people. Um right now we're sitting on the on the on the sidelines in Gaza. Just waiting for them to let you in, right? Just waiting with all the other organizations that are providing. We've we've been there for months just wait with our equipment, waiting for it to be delivered. We can't deliver it ourselves, but we can certainly give it to someone to deliver it for us once they let us in. And because of the the news yesterday that there might be some peaceful end to this conflict, um, we're hoping that we can uh get the uh provisions across the border to the people that help them that need the help because there's millions of them and they're you know at starvation status right now.
SPEAKER_01:Well, and that's a good segue because as you talked about, you you sell shelter box was very prevalent in Haiti and has was in the Palisades fires and all the various different um you know challenges we've had around the world. What is it that you are focused on now? So Gaza, we you've are you still in Ukraine? What are the things that are currently going on in the shelter box world and where are you serving?
SPEAKER_02:Right. Um our website, shelterboxusa.org, has it all listed out with very good details of each country and what we're doing and what we're supplying. But there's actually 14 countries that we're attending to right now. Um and the most recent one, there was a huge um earthquake in the Philippines last night. Oh, I didn't even know about it. 7.4 earthquake. Wow. Um that's a big one.
SPEAKER_00:That was a big one.
SPEAKER_02:Six days ago, they had a 6.9 earthquake in the same region.
SPEAKER_01:Oh, wow.
SPEAKER_02:And and then a couple of weeks before that, they were flooded out by a typhoon. So we've been.
SPEAKER_01:So just one right after the other after the other.
SPEAKER_02:In September, we've been working in the Philippines to help with the typhoon survivors, and now on top of that, they've got buildings that have been destroyed be because of the two big earthquakes. Fortunately enough, shelter box has um put operations in the Philippines because we're just generally attending to disasters there uh twice a month, basically. And so we put a warehouse there that's filled with um supplies that we need to get to people within a timely manner. Um, and so we've been on the ground since September in the Philippines. We have a central operations there that is established so that we can be there um on time. And so we're assisting with these uh people in the Philippines right now. This is the most urgent case. Uh Gaza conflict, we're on the sidelines waiting for them to uh open the borders so that we can get our uh goods across. Um and but you know, just this last month, um we're I mean I can list them out for you. There's loads of um we're in Pakistan, uh there's been monsoons and flooding. Afghanistan, there was a recent earthquake there where millions have lost uh their life uh their homes. Myanmar, there was an earthquake there. These are ones that you may have heard about on the news. Um, and then we've been in Syria um since 2012. We have camps outside of Syria. Uh that there's camps that have been made there so that the refugees coming out of the war have somewhere to stay before they travel on to find their destinations. Um, Bangladesh, flooding, Mozambique. There's been a war going on there since 2017, and we're we're concerned with the refugees, helping the refugees find a safe place with shelter.
SPEAKER_01:Right.
SPEAKER_02:Um Mozambique, Cameroon, since 2009, we've been helping there. The Boko Haram has been terrorizing little villages and and so forth, and so we've had to step in there um and make um common uh campgrounds basically where we set up um safe places for the the women and the children to go to.
SPEAKER_01:So, how how would Rotarians and non-rotarians alike be able to, if there's something that they're passionate about, any one of these countries you mentioned, or just in general, uh shelter box, how would they be able to help?
SPEAKER_02:Uh Rotary is our I would say our biggest sponsor because it is a Rotary International project partner. Um we've been um nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times, 2018, 19, and this year. Oh wow. Um we do have um so we're very um connected with Rotary all around the country and all around the world. Um, because it's our 25th anniversary. Um I have a district challenge for you. I would like we have 60, we have 65 Rotary clubs in our district. Um, and I would like to get 25 club liaisons. That what does that mean? It means one person in a club signs up for uh me to send them an email with or a little text or something with a little bit of information what's going on this month, so that when they go to their rotary club, they can stand up for a couple of minutes and say, Carol sent me some information on shelter box. Um, and it would be very quick and it wouldn't take anything or cost anything. But I'd like to have 25 clubs out of our 65 sign up, and I've got a fair amount already, I've already signed up when I go around the clubs to do my speeches. Um so what does that achieve? Rotarians will be informed as how as how Rotary International Project Partner is helping displaced people when a disaster has occurred and can relate the info to their family and friends. This will increase our shelter box network for additional supporters. We we just, you know, it's just like doing the social media, we we want to increase our network so that we can have more donations coming in so that we can put more equipment on the shelves so when there's a disaster, we can get it in a hurry to where it where it's needed. Um so it costs nothing but a few time, a few, a few minutes of a Rotarian's time to sign up and get the information from me. Um that's my pledge. I want 25 uh district clubs to sign up and um represent.
SPEAKER_01:So, governor, what do you what do you think about that? How do you can get the message out to our clubs to uh help Carol out?
SPEAKER_00:Carol, I think she's quite look at her. She's got it. She's ready. Well, Carol, I I think that I can certainly help you as I go out and have my governor visits and talk about that. And I think it's really quite remarkable that you're in and and you guys are really on top of it to mention that we had an earthquake in the Philippines last night that that hasn't even made the news. So that's really that that shows that you uh on a worldwide basis that shelter box really is tied into all manners of disaster uh relief as well as conflict relief. And I think that's admirable. I was actually actually sitting here wondering and said, I wonder if there's some way we could use DDF. I'm not even sure.
SPEAKER_01:Um well I think that some of our DDF is used because in the world with a partner, I believe funds come out of the World Fund to work with with um Shelter Box. But there is a a way that we can definitely communicate the message through our social media channels and your monthly newsletter and the website. So I think that challenge is something that that definitely could be expressed throughout our district. And also if there's anyone that's not a Rotarian that happens upon this episode, how would they get involved?
SPEAKER_02:Uh, best way to get involved in all the information how to get involved with Shelterbox USA is on our website, uh, shelterboxusa.org. Um, there is another one if they just type in shelterbox, but that goes that applies, that's the that's the headquarters. Right. Um, and if people send donations in there, it goes to the English English pound. So we want people to use shelterbox USA.
SPEAKER_01:You know, and that's really important because I think what happens, especially now, with everything being so easy to start a GoFundMe or or whatever, and a lot of really fake um fundraisers that get put up whenever there's any kind of disaster. Uh, it is nice to know and be able to communicate to our communities. This is a well-established, very functional, nonprofit, rotary connected with uh with a partnership that we know for sure can prove that you're literally gonna put boots on the ground and and the everything the family needs for their home in this natural disaster. So, you know, that message I think is a good message for us as Rotarians to share with our friends, even if they're not uh coming to a rotary meeting or part of rotary, if they want to be a part of giving back to their community or helping in a natural disaster anywhere in the world, that your uh organization is a very good place to start. Carol.
SPEAKER_02:We have served um three million people in a hundred countries in in the last 25 years with shelter. That's amazing.
SPEAKER_00:That is amazing. Carol, so I I will I will assist you with your challenge by challenging you. Can you provide me every month with a written blurb on what shelter box has been doing uh throughout the world that we could include in our district newsletter?
SPEAKER_02:I would be more than happy to just send that to Dan. As an ambassador, we're given that information on a regular basis.
SPEAKER_00:Okay. So I'm gonna ask you then to send it to Dan Goodrich. And uh we no, we will include that in our district uh newsletter going out because I think you're doing amazing work. And uh I think we you know certainly Rotary supports it, we support it in our district, and we want to make sure that we let all of our Rotarians know about that, as well as non-rotarians. So we hope they see that as well, and it will obviously prominently feature your your your website uh for people to get involved, etc. I I do have a qu uh operational question for you. The the the tents that you put together, um, and I know every disaster is different, and different locales have different weathering structures, but uh how long would a typical tent live, you know, in the Ukraine or in Yemen or in wherever? And then how what is this what does a family do when they've been in a tent for a while, they have not had any permanent structures available, and the tent needs additional support or replacement. How does that work?
SPEAKER_02:Well, first of all, we we send out the um supplies, the tents, and the equipment with um what we call SRT, shelter response team. So we have a team that goes with our shipments and they teach the people how to put the tents up. Then you'll find that the people teach other people and teach other people and teach other people. They teach them how to care for them, uh, what they can withstand in weather. Um, they've been thoroughly tested in heat, cold, wind, rain. Um, so they do they're very durable, these tents. Um, they're only supposed to like uh relieve a family maybe of 10 at the most for six months.
SPEAKER_00:Okay.
SPEAKER_02:But we've seen instances where um there might still be some people in Haiti still living in them 15 years later.
SPEAKER_00:Wow.
SPEAKER_01:Wow. Wow. That would be an interesting study to go down and really see that.
SPEAKER_02:Other places, India and Pakistan and and Africa, you'll see once they're done with the tents, they they look after them, they put them away, they wrap them up, um, and just in case it's another disaster, so they can fall back on them, they know how to use them. Other places, well, they don't need the tent anymore, but they've turned them into stores. You know, the ladies in Africa that that are dressmakers, they'll hang their wares, they'll use this the tent as a as a uh shop. Yeah, so it still continues to be relevant and helpful in the community. We never ask for them back. Um, but we do do a follow-up. We send a team to follow up on all the disasters and report back, you know, what was good, what wasn't so good, um, what do we need to do if there's a if there's anything else that we need to do. So um then they're very useful. And the one I have is my display tent. Happy to bring it out to any of your Rotarian events, as long as it's not 120 degrees.
SPEAKER_01:As it can be in the desert. Well, Carol, we're so excited that you came out and chatted with us today and give us a challenge in District 5330 that um I'm sure that our Rotarians will be interested to hear about and we'll see what we can do. We may have to have you back when we when we reach that goal.
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01:Wonderful. Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_00:Thank you very much. Thank you. We appreciate it.
SPEAKER_01:Bye bye.