ORLANDO, Fla. — An Orlando local is being esteemed with the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for his extraordinary service to disaster relief. 

What You Need To Know

  • Pete Scott received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for his service in disaster relief

  • Scott volunteers with ShelterBox, an organization that helps those who lost their homes due to a disaster or conflict

  • Scott also works a full time job but is passionate about giving back

  • The organization provides shelter kits, solar lanterns, and other things people may need

Solar lanterns are something Pete Scott is familiar with as he helps provide these to families in need. “It blows up so people can have a light well beyond the time of daylight hours so they can cook, they can read, they can do homework,” Scott said. 

It’s all part of ShelterBox, an organization helping those around the world who have lost their homes due to a disaster or conflict. “One of the things that goes into every ShelterBox kit is this solar panel lantern from LuminAID,” Scott said. “This actually appeared on shark tank years ago, it's relatively small and it packs light.” 

Scott said the folks they help are real people with real stories, like Fatima who lost her older sister to an airstrike in Syria. “She did this. We provided a tent and a place to live and the essential tools she needs to really go out there and be the absolutely incredible amazing woman that she is,” Scott explained.  

He received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for finding new and innovative ways to continue volunteering despite the lockdown. “Right here are the ways where your donation goes. So for $1,000 you can give a complete shelterbox. And $20 gives soap and a basin for people to maintain good hygiene and stay healthy.”

But this is not all Scott does. He has a full time job as the CEO of the American Academy of Optometry. He’s in and out of meetings all day, usually on the phone and on the computer. 

But his heart is with ShelterBox. “I believe in giving back. I've gotten so much out of Central Florida and the people here for so long. I feel it's important to give back,” Scott said.  

Scott said if you're not involved somewhere and have the time, don't hesitate to give back. “I don't have a megaphone,” Scott added. “I don't have a platform to change the world but this is how I get to impact one small corner of it and thats all I really care about.”

If you would like to get involved with ShelterBox, click here for more info.