Mending the Spirit of the Quake-Battered Communities of Christchurch
By New Zealand Relief Team (Originally in English)
On February 22, 2011, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake devastated the second largest city in New Zealand, Christchurch. Many buildings collapsed, and power and telephone lines were knocked out, while burst pipes deluged streets with water. About 65 people lost their lives and many more moved to emergency shelters in the city. It was the country’s worst disaster in the last 80 years. To provide timely aid to the affected people, Supreme Master Ching Hai immediately contributed US$20,000. Our Association members in New Zealand also contributed NZ$11,900 and formed a relief team to travel to the quake-stricken area on February 25. Working with a local shelter in New Brighton, an eastern suburb of Christchurch, they were able to serve about 700 hot meals each day to the thankful members of the hard-hit, surrounding communities and nearby neighborhood for nine days. The fresh fruit and potable drinking water they provided were especially appreciated and many people were interested in learning about the vegan solution to the crisis of global warming. Some decided to reduce their meat consumption, with one lady affirming that she would become a vegetarian. Slowly, power and water supplies were restored and supermarkets re-opened in the community. The relief team members then visited another shelter set up at a local primary school, which offered relief to people and families who were still in need. During the following three days, they served meals and provided a variety of food and basic necessities to those affected. The organizers of the shelters were amazed at Master’s generosity and repeatedly expressed their gratefulness for such wonderful support. The team also shared SOS flyers with everyone and talked to them, young and old from different cultures, about the benefits of the vegan diet. On March 14, they visited Cat Rescue, which cares for many abandoned or injured cats, and offered them a 100kg supply of vegan cat food and a financial contribution of NZ$1,400. The director of the shelter, Ms. Sacha Dowell, who is a vegan, thanked Master for Her timely gifts, which would help in the recovery and re-homing of the lovely felines. In addition, the relief team also contributed NZ$1,000 each to two rescued-dog groups. The funds would ensure the dogs received important veterinary treatment after the quake, while they were waiting to find new homes.  June Earthquake Relief On June 13, two large aftershocks measuring 5.7 and 6.3 on the Richter scale, again struck the already battered city of Christchurch, causing another major physical and psychological blow to its citizens. With Master’s loving contribution of US$15,000, a relief team composed of our Association members from around the country arrived in Christchurch on June 18 and immediately joined in a community effort to clean up the badly damaged streets. Over the next five days, the team worked closely with several community volunteer groups and supplied a total of 25 quality heaters, 190 warm blankets, socks and hot water bottles to the needy families. One family with 11 members living under one roof was so touched and happy to receive the timely aid that the grandmother framed a picture of Master, which she keeps in her room and shows to others. Our Association members also delivered vegan food supplies, clean drinking water, medical and sanitary supplies and other relief items to two small, locally operated church groups that had been giving assistance to the affected people since the last earthquake. Furthermore, to another dog rescue shelter which had been overwhelmed by the numbers of homeless dogs after the quake, the team lovingly contributed NZ$2,053. Thrilled to receive the gift, the staff at the shelter said the funds would help to pay emergency vet bills. Wherever they went, our relief team received very positive and enthusiastic
responses from the local people. Many shops and businesses offered
them big discounts for goods and supplies they purchased. Let’s
hope that through God’s blessing, the beautiful city of Christchurch
will soon return to normal and the kind-hearted people will once again
enjoy their peaceful lives. Expenditures by Supreme Master Ching
Hai
for Earthquake Relief Work in Christchurch, New Zealand
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February Earthquake Relief
