Japanese Donation to Help Addington Community

Earthquake recovery work in Addington is getting a $5000 boost.

Coming out of the $17,000 recently donated to the Rebuild Christchurch Foundation by the Nippon Volunteer Network Active in Disaster (NVNAD), the $5000 will make a big difference to the work of Addington Action in the local community.

Run entirely by volunteers, Addington Action spokesman, Mike Peters, says the group completed 700 jobs for 430 households on 112 streets in the first 250 days following February 22, 2011.

“We are a working committee made up of a resident from each street, workplace, church and school. We meet every month to plan and co-ordinate our activities, volunteers are communicated with by cellphone text messages, and posters are put up on streets to communicate with residents.”

Mike Peters says the biggest problem in the area is the social impact the quakes are having on top of existing poverty, low wages and high rents.

“Our aim is to get people back on their feet so they can cope and do the rest themselves.”

Rebuild Christchurch’s Deon Swiggs says Addington Action is making a real difference.

“Strong communities will make for a stronger city all round,” he says. “This kind of community action is happening right across the city and needs ongoing support from as many people and organisations as possible.”

Addington Action’s work includes: the repair of uninsured houses belonging to the elderly, disabled or single parent families with young kids; the clearing of rubble/rubbish from earthquake sections and transporting to the dump; helping establish home veggie gardens; distribution of food parcels; referrals to social workers; organising community events to help boost morale.