Staff connection drives Nepal generosity

Caption: Territorial Community Fundraising Director Andrew Hill accepts a cheque from Thomas Dux employee.

The two earthquakes which struck Nepal earlier this year killed 9000 people and injured more than 20,000, as homes, business and farms were destroyed.

The magnitude 7.8 earthquake on 25 April was responsible for the major loss of life and damage, although the 12 May aftershock, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake, killed 153 people and hampered existing relief efforts.

The Salvation Army, which opened its work in Nepal in 2009, was one of the first relief organisations to respond to the disasters. As part of the relief effort, The Salvation Army partnered with the Thomas Dux food store chain, which has a high ration of staff and management with Nepalese heritage.

The chain of 11 specialty food stores (owned by Woolworths, but independent in many facets of operations) announced a month-long appeal, which resulted in more than $7000 of customer donations which was handed to The Salvation Army.

Simon Tracey, from Thomas Dux, says the company teamed up with The Salvation Army to organise in-store donations and receipts within days of the first earthquake. “Our organisation was very confident that the funds would be used efficiently by The Salvation Army for essential, life-saving basics of food, water and shelter,” Simon said. “What our staff also communicated to us and to customers was the fact that every dollar was so valuable and just how much it could really achieve in Nepal.”

By late June, The Salvation Army had organised a shipment of 1000 high-quality tents which arrived from Pakistan before the worst of the monsoon rains. At that stage more than 100,000 kilograms of rice had been distributed with a range of other food, plus more than 2000 litres of water, plus tanks, filters, tarps, mosquito nets, school packs and more.

While the recovery process continues, The Salvation Army's international emergency team leader Colonel Carol Telfer said: “We are making a difference in people's lives here. On behalf of the team, I want to thank Salvationists and friends from around the world for the support you have given in enabling us to do this.”

By Naomi Singlehurst