Wayne Rushton of Rotary Club of Paddington sent us some fascinating info!
2014 - In the Netherlands a friend of clothes designer Bas Timmer died of hypothermia.
Timmer set about designing an outfit that the homeless could wear/sleep in during the cold wet weather.
His design was called a Sheltersuit because it was a windproof padded jacket that could be transformed into a bodysuit by zipping a pair of trousers to the jacket (photo) and worn by the homeless living rough on the streets.
The design/product concept was quickly embraced and supported by major charitable organisations in the northern hemisphere including Rotary InternationalWhen Trimmer later visited South Africa where the suits are manufactured by a social manufacturing organization (Ark.com) he was told that the Sheltersuits were too heavy, too hot to wear and they were being discarded.
Timmer set about redesigning the suit to allow for the warmer southern hemisphere climates winters and summers, he designed a sleeping bag hence Shelterbags.
A Shelterbags is a sleeping bag made of repurposed material, waterproof, lightweight (2.5kgs) with a padded mattress and pillow, a vent in the bottom plus a pocket for storing valuables and straps to make it easier to carry. (photo)
Shelterbags are distributed in the USA, UK, Europe, South Africa and Australia, and are being sent to many countries now in conflict eg Syria, Ukraine and also to countries where natural disasters have occurred eg Turkey’s (earthquake).
Shelterbags Australia
The driving force for Shelterbags in Aust is Mary Crammond (Rotary Club Bowral NSW) who in 2019 on a visit to Cape Town, South Africa was introduced to Shelterbags by a local Rotary Club member.
Back in Australia she commenced fund raising to order Shelterbags for her local community.
In 2023 - Gawler Light Rotary Club South Australia heard about the project and started their own project which has now grown to 22 SA. In 2024 over 300 bags were purchased.
This shows what Rotary clubs can do if they work together.
Todate the total of Shelterbags that SA, NSW, Vic, WA has reached over 3000
Queensland
In 2024 WR first heard about Shelterbags from an article written by the Rotary Club of Gawler Light in the June issue of the RDU – and here we are !!
With a short 16 week presentation campaign we had 17 clubs commit to the 2024 winter project and over $22,000 was raised meaning approx. 200 bags
How are they distributed
Shelterbags are imported from South Africa via the Rotary Club of Bowral NSW
They are delivered to a central point in each state and distributed to clubs from there.
Once the clubs have the Shelterbags they are provided to the homeless community using the individual clubs preferred outreach organization eg St Vinnies, Salvos or any other homeless organization that they currently work with.
They will have a Rotary logo printed on the bags to promote Rotary.
This is an opportunity for Rotary Clubs to engage with other local organizations which is both rewarding for Rotary club and promotes their name in local community.
Cost
Bags are currently $93 including freight landed in Sydney- freight costs may rise in 2025 - we have been informed that the cost of the bags themselves will not rise in 2025.
Clubs can allocate $500, $1000, $2000 when the prices are known for the 2026 the number of bags will be determined.
They are ordered by container load of 1000.
Timing 2025
Launch at Toowoomba conference
Commence contacting Clubs 1 July 2025
Orders to MC 30 Nov
Delivery Feb 2026
Sheltersuit Foundation - https://sheltersuit.com/
youtube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVf62d94L40
South Africa info - https://sheltersuit-southafrica.org.za/