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Checking in With Kaiapoi Community
Wednesday, 8 August 2012
A Kaiapoi door knock organised by the Waimakariri District Council with support from Kaiapoi’s Volunteer Coordinator Peter Cloughley was held yesterday.
The door knock involved checking in with households, discussing any needs or concerns they may have, and providing residents with information about available services and assistance in the community.
Households in Kaiapoi, excluding those in the Residential Red Zone, were approached and a number of volunteers including residents, the Kaiapoi Pastoral Care Team, Waimakariri Earthquake Support Service (WESS), District Councillors and the Waimakariri District Mayor David Ayers, carried out the door knock.
Council’s Social Recovery Manager Sandra James says it is important all residents in Kaiapoi are supported and aware of the services and assistance available to them.
“While we do our best to promote the services we have available, we know there are some of our residents who do not know about the Kaiapoi Earthquake Hub which is here to help all earthquake affected residents.”
“In addition there are a number of other support organisations and services like Kaiapoi Community Support and the Kaiapoi community gatherings, so we made sure every household in Kaiapoi had this information delivered to them.”
“We see door knocks as being one of the most effective ways to see how people are doing in our community and we will be following up on any issues or concerns people have that are passed on to our volunteers. We are also offering people the opportunity to receive a Red Cross Winter Warmer Pack if they are feeling the cold.”
The packs are being given to people who are living in caravans, cold or damaged homes, camping grounds and cars and contain a beanie, gloves, blankets, milo, soup, a thermo mug, torch radio and a hot water bottle.
Volunteer Coordinator Peter Cloughley says the tremendous level of support from the volunteers is what makes door knock exercises possible. “We are really happy with the turn-out of 40 volunteers and there have already been some issues identified which is great.”
“The earthquake support services like the Kaiapoi Earthquake Hub and WESS will be able to follow these up over the next week. We are now looking for more volunteers for next Tuesday 14 August as we are just over halfway through the door knock.”
Volunteers can contact Peter on 027 608 9824 or at petergclo@hotmail.com if they are able to help with next week’s door knock.
Residents are welcome to contact either WESS on (03) 327 5621 or the Rangiora Rotary Charitable Trust Chair Peter Allen on (03) 313 4971, to apply for a Winter Warmer Pack.
Further information:
Sandra James
Social Recovery Manager
Phone: (03) 311 8900 ext. 8859 or (03) 327 6834
Email: sandra.james@wmk.govt.nz
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