Community Corner

Pelham Mom Sleeps in Tent to Aid Disaster Relief Organization

Mohan was spending the week sleeping in a tent to raise awareness for ShelterBox.

Pelham resident Theresa Mohan wrote this June 2 on her Facebook page:

"Having survived Sandy, I am even more convinced that in the face of a disaster where you have lost everything, having a place to call home becomes everything."

Mohan spent this past week living in a tent to raise awareness for ShelterBox USA, an international humanitarian relief organization.

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"I got involved in this organization about a year and a half ago," she said, "and witnessed the type of aid they bring to people in need."

Mohan is the secretary of the organization's board of directors.

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After a disaster, ShelterBox provides a family with a tent and essential equipment to use while they are displaced or homeless.

"Right now we are helping with the Syrian relief crisis," Mohan said, adding that the tents supplied after the devastating Haiti earthquake are still being used.

She said the weather has been a real challenge for her this year, which is the second year in a row she has participated in Big ShelterBox Week, the group's annual awareness and fundraising week.

Her family's efforts in 2012 not only introduced the organization to her community but raised $2,000.

While her twin 6-year-old daughters, Jamie and Erin, were with Mohan every night in spirit, they weren't necessarily there every night sleeping inside the tent.

She can't blame them really.

"The first night I set up the tent, I didn't follow the directions," Mohan said. There apparently were small poles that were supposed to go acoss the top of the tent to form a dome. Without them, a puddle of water appeared on the tent floor.

And if that wasn't bad enough, she forgot to turn off the lawn sprinklers, so she got awakened at 4:30 a.m.

Still Mohan put the experience all into perspective with this Saturday Facebook page entry:

"This week is about raising awareness and I really appreciate you allowing me to do so. Right now I am sleeping in the tent by choice but there are people all over the world who live in that tent because they have no choice and feel very lucky to have the tent to call home. Thank you."


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