Event host John McGovern, center, with Sara Aldana, left, ShelterBox CEO Kerri Murray, Derin Einger and Julia Woolf at “An Evening to Experience ShelterBox.” 
One of the ShelterBox tents. 
Montecito mudslide survivors Lauren Cantin and Kenny Loggins perform with keyboardist Brian Mann and guitarist George Quirin. 
Volunteer Winter Smith, left, and ShelterBox staff member Jessica Metcalf showcase the cooking utensils and water purification system that are included with the ShelterBox tent. 
Pamela Scott, left, and Renee Gignac. 
Sharky’s Woodfired Mexican Grill representatives serve up a Mexican buffet. 
Ed Minnis, left, and Tom Reid. 
Lisa Amador, left, and Leana Orsua. 
Paul Vercammen conducts the paddle raise. 
ShelterBox’s Kerri Murray speaks in front of tent packages. 
Joyce and Alex Carassa. 
Kay Baptista, left, and Suzanne Larkin.
International disaster relief organization ShelterBox USA, based in Santa Barbara, hosted “An Evening to Experience ShelterBox” on Sept. 12 at a private residence in Summerland.
The purpose of the annual event is to introduce ShelterBox USA to anyone in the community who wishes to learn more or to support the organization’s mission and work around the world.
“This is a great opportunity for our local community to come out and learn about the global humanitarian work of ShelterBox and find ways they can get directly involved,” said Kerri Murray, the president of ShelterBox USA.
The event featured interactive demonstrations with a variety of ShelterBox tents and equipment on display as well as a brief program.
ShelterBox Response team members who have been deployed around the world spoke in person and via video about their ShelterBox experience and the organization's compassionate care.
Sponsors included Ed McGovern, Yardi, MarBorg Industries, Summerland Winery, Santa Barbara Travel, Community West Bank, Maps.com, Tri-Co Reprographics and others.
Light fare was served, including handcrafted tacos donated by Sharky’s Woodfired Mexican Grill and tequila donated by Código 1530.
Later in the evening, renowned musician Kenny Loggins surprised guests with a musical performance with vocalist and fellow Montecito mudslide survivor Lauren Cantin, keyboard artist Brian Mann and guitarist George Quirin.
There was no charge to attend the event, but guests could make a donation through a paddle raise conducted by award-winning reporter and producer Paul Vercammen.
ShelterBox provides shelter and lifesaving supplies after disaster and conflict situations. The organization currently has personnel on the ground in the Bahamas following Hurricane Dorian, and it deployed shelter aid to the Caribbean following Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
In the past year, it also has responded to disasters and crises in Syria, Indonesia, the Lake Chad Basin, Ethiopia, Malawi, the Phillipines and more, providing emergency shelter to more than 220,000 people.
ShelterBox received nominations in 2018 and 2019 for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Since 2000, ShelterBox has provided shelter, warmth and more after more than 300 disasters in more than 100 countries. It responds urgently to earthquake, volcano, flood, hurricane, cyclone, tsunami or conflict by delivering boxes of essential aid and other lifesaving supplies.
Each green ShelterBox contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, a water filtration system, emergency lighting and other tools for survival. ShelterBox is an official Project Partner of Rotary International.
Click here for more information about ShelterBox, or contact Carrie Baptista at cbaptista@shelterboxusa.org or 559.349.1666. Click here to make an online donation.
— Noozhawk contributing writer Rochelle Rose can be reached at rrose@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkSociety, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Become a fan of Noozhawk on Facebook.