Fundraisers in Oregon and New York will raise awareness and support for families affected by disasters around the world
Hermiston, Oregon, and Henderson Harbor, New York
ShelterBox USA will get a sweaty boost of goodwill this Saturday when supporters 2,663 miles apart stage creative fundraising and awareness-building events.
In Hermiston, Oregon, pickleball players of all levels will swing into action Saturday to benefit people who have lost everything in disasters around the world during the first-ever Watermelon Slam pickleball tournament. The tournament is hosted by the Hermiston Rotary Club, 541 Pickleball, and Good Shepherd Health Services.
“The goal is to raise money and get people around the globe access to life-changing supplies from ShelterBox,” said Daniel Wattenburger, Hermiston Rotary Club President-Elect.
When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 27
Where: Good Shepherd Pickleball Complex, 1800 NW 6th Street, Hermiston, Ore.
Across the country in Henderson Harbor, New York, well over 100 bicyclists will take to the streets Saturday to rally for ShelterBox USA.
“My hope is to keep using this ride to educate and encourage others,” said organizer Jennifer Austin. “To remind people that even in an unsettled world, simple acts of compassion can bring real hope to families when they need it most.”
Where: Starting Point, Henderson Harbor Performing Arts Property, 12470 County Route 123, Henderson, NY 13650
When: 9 a.m. Saturday, June 27
The ride features three routes appealing to every age and skill level: a 50-mile route, a 30-mile route, and an 11-mile course.
This year marks the 14th annual ShelterBox Ride in Henderson Harbor, N.Y., supported by Watertown Rotarians. Over the past 13 years, more than 1,600 riders have raised more than $150,000 to help shelter people around the world. Tom Dueson, a well-regarded former Rotary Club president and peace activist, started the successful fundraiser. Dueson has since moved to the Midwest, and the owners of ReCre’s Bike Studio now run the ride for ShelterBox USA.
“I joined the event as a co-organizer in 2022, and with Tom’s passion and deep commitment to ShelterBox, it felt impossible not to say yes to taking on a bigger role,” said Austin. “Before that, my husband and I supported the ride through our local bike shop, and it felt like a meaningful and natural way to be involved.”
A cluster of exceptional supporters in Eastern Oregon, including Lloyd Piercy, Eric Reise, Aloras Winters, Dave Hanson, Dave Smith, Gene Merwin, and Wattenburger, show tremendous compassion through their support of ShelterBox USA.
“The extended Hermiston community has always been giving and outward-looking, wanting to make an impact in the world,” said Wattenburger. “The people here are very can-do people.”
Hermiston Rotarians and other community members also provide critical training for ShelterBox USA employees, members of the board of directors, and volunteers. Each September, the group hosts a three-day disaster simulation called S.A.F.E., or ShelterBox Advocate Field Experience. Participants spend two nights in ShelterBox tents, visit disaster-ravaged villages during the exercise, and offer their assessments on what supplies are needed.
While the training can be intense, the Watermelon Slam will take on a lighter tone.
“As a novice player myself, I am looking forward to seeing who comes out and how I match up,” Wattenburger said with a laugh.
The pickleball tournament and bicycle ride come as the global humanitarian crisis worsens, with the United Nations reporting that 117 million people around the world are forcibly displaced—roughly one in every 70 people.
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