Next Phase of Earthquake Recovery

The Salvation Army has concluded its concentrated visitation programme following the Christchurch earthquake and has entered the next phase in its recovery response. This will be focused on helping people become more independent and meeting medium and long-term needs in the city.

The Salvation Army is acutely aware that unemployment in the city is rising and likely to jump once Government support for local businesses ends at the end of next month—and that the Army’s recovery work needs to be long-term and sustainable.

Southern Division Commander Major Clive Nicolson says while residents needing material and emotional support will continue to receive help from The Salvation Army, those who are able will be encouraged to take responsibility for their own day-to-day needs.

Major Daryl Crowden is an Australian International Emergency Services officer working alongside Major Nicolson. He says a significant number of residents are still ‘hunkered down’, rarely leaving their homes. Apart from making people more self-reliant, encouraging people to take greater responsibility for themselves is beneficial to their mental health, he says. ‘We’re trying to get them to see beyond their four walls and put their situation in context,’ Major Crowden says.

Some residents are exhibiting significant degrees of frustration and anger as they await answers about the future of their properties. Major Crowden says that while these emotions are an expected part of the recovery process, Salvation Army workers are often the ones faced with difficult task of providing emotional support and helping people put their bureaucratic problems into context.

As from this week, the number of psychosocial workers providing emotional and practical support to quake-affected residents in the city has reduced from around 100 to 25.

And for the first time, The Salvation Army has permission to send a team of eight psychosocial workers into the orange zone of the CBD to check on residents allowed to move back into their homes. The orange zone has been off limits since the quake. It will be the first time for many of these residents that they have received comprehensive support.

Demand on Salvation Army Community Ministries is gradually diminishing, with food parcel distribution down to around 200 a day, compared to 800 in the days following the quake. Salvation Army Emergency Services were serving up to 970 meals a day until the end of last week but are now only feeding those engaged in The Salvation Army’s earthquake response .

Where possible The Salvation Army is providing vouchers rather than food parcels or other items to stimulate the fragile local economy. Companies such as Chevron and Mitre 10 have donated funds for vouchers. Some other assistance is coming through partnership projects, such as clothing vouchers with Postie Plus and $500 Care Cards developed in conjunction with Westpac Bank.

The Salvation Amy has distributed more than 1250 Care Cards and provided around 300 Care Breaks to individuals and families to help them get some respite away from Christchurch.

The Salvation Army is currently having three purpose-built shower units manufactured in China. The showers will be capable of providing up to 400 people with showers each day. With colder weather and continuing problems with water and wastewater infrastructure in Christchurch, the arrival of the shower units is expected to be warmly welcomed by residents.

A Community Care van donated by Westpac Bank and fitted out as a mobile office is being used in areas where there is no Salvation Army presence. Parked in neighbourhoods or other locations where residents congregate, Salvation Army personnel provide advice or material and psychosocial support. This service is followed-up with more intensive help if needed. Two four-wheel-drive utes donated by Isuzu New Zealand are being used to ferry food and other items to residents in areas where the roads are still severely damaged.

Salvation Army Public Relations Secretary Major Robbie Ross says companies looking to support the Army’s work in Christchurch continue to make contact. Some are also showing interest in supporting The Salvation Army’s wider community work.

Most of the contents of food parcels are provided directly by corporate donations. The New Zealand Food and Grocery Council has canvassed its members on behalf of The Salvation Army with astounding results, says Major Ross. Kellogg’s, for instance, has been providing weekly shipments of breakfast cereals since the February quake. In addition, $160,000 of grocery vouchers have been purchased from Progressive Enterprises at discount. The company is also providing expertise in organising The Salvation Army’s recently acquired storage facility.

The Salvation Army is pleased with the response to its Earthquake Appeal and is working with other major appeals to ensure that donated monies are targeted to the areas of greatest need.

Major Nicolson says the morale of Salvation Army officers, staff and volunteers remains high—even among locals who have damaged or destroyed properties. ‘In these difficult times, I feel very privileged to be part of an organisation that cares for people and endeavours to make a difference,’ he says.

Donate to the ‘Canterbury Earthquake Appeal’

• Freephone: 0800 53 00 00
• By Post: ‘The Salvation Army, PO Box 27 001 Marion Square, Wellington 6141, New Zealand’
• By Direct Credit: BNZ 02-0568-0091726-02
  
  • Please include your first and last name as a reference. For a receipt email
    Public Relations with your mailing address.
• Donate online

Please specify that your donation is for the ‘Canterbury Earthquake Appeal’