FRIDAY, September 22 and Saturday, September 23, will see Crediton’s two Rotary Clubs collecting in the High Street and Morrisons store in Mill Street, on behalf of the Cornwall-based ShelterBox.

ShelterBox enjoys widespread support from individuals and organisations country-wide and provides practical shelter and survival equipment in time of need.

This year has been the busiest ever with response to drought in Somaliland, catastrophic flooding in Nepal and Bangladesh, conflict across several African states and most recently the awful hurricane Irma that has struck many Caribbean islands and Florida.

There are now almost 85 million people around the world forced from their homes due to natural disasters or conflict, the greatest number since World War Two.

ShelterBox is a world authority on providing innovative, rapid and practical shelter to families in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places and in devastated disaster zones.

Since its start in 2000 it has helped more than one million people and strives to place shelter quickly in the hands of the vulnerable when they need it.

ShelterBox is funded only by public donations and receives no EU or UK government funding.

The charity’s signature green boxes - durable and highly portable - are now a familiar and welcome sight in humanitarian emergencies worldwide.

The Rotary Clubs welcome new members and can be contacted by telephone on 01363 82469 or 01363 84256.

The Rotary Club of Crediton meets on Thursday lunchtimes and the Rotary Club of Crediton Boniface on Tuesday evenings.