IN-PERSON & ZOOM MEETING : Shelterbox
Rotarian Judy Hutcherson will talk to us about Shelterbox, which evolved from a local Rotary Club project in the UK to a global organization providing shelter, temporary housing, and assistance for people impacted by catastrophic events around the world.
About Judy Hutcherson, RN
Judy Hutcherson, RN, was born and raised in Grand Prairie, Texas. She graduated from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas, with an Associate Degree in Nursing in 1980. In 1989, she graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor Degree in Nursing. After working in various fields of nursing, including Obstetrics, Intravenous Therapy and Oncology, she retired from active nursing in 2000 to devote her time to various mission projects.
Judy joined the Fredericksburg Morning Rotary Club in October 2002. She and her husband John are both active members. After serving as Club Service co-chair, Secretary, and International Lane Chair, Judy was elected President of her club in 2007. She also was the GSE team leader from District 5840 to District 2050 in northern Italy, May 2008. Judy has served District 5840 as the World Community Service Chair, Friendship Exchange Chair and Assistant District Governor. She serves on the District 5840 HungerPlus Adopt-A-Region Committee, PolioPlus Chair and is a ShelterBox Representative for District 5840. Judy is Past District Governor for District 5840 2016-2017.
Judy has been awarded Rotarian of the Year and Service Above Self by her club, and the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce 2009 Community Service Award. But her most honored award, the coveted Rotary International Service Above Self Award, was presented by District 5840 in 2009
Judy traveled to Afghanistan in October 2008 to explore Rotary projects with Rotarians from the US and Australia. She and her husband John have participated in National Immunization Days and work projects in India in 2009, 2010, and 2011 and in Pakistan in 2013 and 2015.
Judy is active in the Fredericksburg United Methodist Church and served as the International Coordinator for Volunteers in Mission for the Southwest Texas UMC Conference for 6 years. She provided leadership training for volunteers wanting to lead mission teams to various countries. She led a construction team to Haiti in October 2010 and a medical education team to Russia in October 2012
Judy served as a volunteer and board member of The Good Samaritan Center, a non-profit clinic in Fredericksburg. She has been an active participant with Mision De Candelilla since 1999 and served as chair of the board 2012-2014 and 2022-2024. She has traveled to Mexico many times, as well as to Guatemala, Haiti, Russia, India, Afghanistan, Australia, Malawi, Pakistan, the Philippines and Europe.
In all these travels, she has realized that people are very much the same the world over and that we could all enjoy many of the same opportunities if only education and health care were offered to all.