Samoa: Day 1
Thank you again to all of you for your continuing support. After one day I feel so humbled with how sharing people have been with me. I've seen families burying their family and then playing games of Vollyball. These are a resilient people but they are overwhelmed.
Faofao beach fales was one of the places I visited today. I made the TAXI stop when I saw a bunch of people sitting in the middle of the rubble. They look stunned and shocked. The only clothes they have are the ones on there backs but thanks to Ewan Gilmore they will have nearly enough T-Shirts tomorrow for their entire family, which comprises 40 individuals.
However, the one thing they are in dire need of is shoes. It was early in the morning when the Tsunami hit and many of them left their shoes to flee for their lives. If you could contact me through this blog to pledge shoes I would be most grateful. With the funds I have already received from your kind selves I will be going and buying basic jandals for them in the morning as they are walking on bare feet at present. Not the safest.
Sewage has become another big problem so I have suggested the short term solution of long drops for the family's which I plan to help build. I need to buy a spade and a hammer and nails so will go into Apia first thing to source. I must say I've been humbled by these people and their capacity to keep on smiling but there are basic things that they need so urgently.
Red Cross, CARITAS and the United Nations are helping with big scale stuff like water, electricity as well as searching for bodies but it's the little things that these wonderful folk need.
My amazing host, John, a 68 year old American Peace Corp volunteer is helping me no end in guiding how we can best help here. I hope to update you with story's of success. God knows they need it.
You can donate to support Hamish's work in Samoa here:
or through any of the following general appeals:
Red Cross Samoa Tsunami Relief project at givealittle.co.nz
www.oxfam.org.nz, by phone 0800 400 666, or you can make make an automatic $20 donation, please call 0900 600 20.
www.caritas.org.nz, by phone 0800 22 10 22, by automatic $20 donation from a phone account 0900 4 11 11, or cheques posted to Caritas, PO Box 12193, Wellington, 6144.
www.mercury.co.nz, by texting the word Samoa followed by the amount you wish to pledge and your Mercury Energy account number to 515 (e.g. Text 'Samoa 20 John 012345678')
Deposits to the Pacific Cooperation Foundation Tsunami Relief Fund can be made at any Westpac branch.
If you have clothes you'd like to donate you can do so at any of three Auckland drop off points:
South Auckland - 68 Puriri Rd, Manurewa. Contact Belz & Stacey via text or phone on 02 1143 2680 prior to drop off
West Auckland - 109 Swanson Rd, Henderson. Contact Letti & Jae'd via text or phone on 02 153 8580 prior to drop off
Central Auckland - PIPA, Carrington Road, UNITEC Entry 4. Contact Olivia via text or phone on 02 1034 2981 or bt phone on 09 815 7486 prior to drop off
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Hamish Coleman-Ross
Jandles have been bought as well as the transport to get them there. If you saw the area that these people are in then you would understand it is not the best to be walking around barefoot. ALSO, the part of the island where the affected are in in consideration to the capital APIA, as well as the airport, is a considerable distance. I have been doing 90 min trips each way both days I have been here so far. I don't look to stop doing his either.
Tili
Does anyone know if there's a drop off point in Wellington?Kirstymac
If we donated clothes to the red cross would they send them to Samoa still? The drop off points are all very far away from where I live!Brian
O - In reply, because he's a bit busy himself, Hamish is spending the day helping facilitate the rebuilding of a Samoan man's bar which was completely washed away on Wednesday. He's also digging makeshift toilets. Give as much as you like to whichever organisation you choose - all of the addresses are there and the Red Cross is a great option. You can donate there for sure. None of the money donated via Throng is being used by Hamish on himself. His friends and a few organisations including the one i work for are supporting that part of the trip and he's staying for free on a local peacekeeper's couch.bobscoffee
I thought Throng was supposed to be about TV?
O
"You can donate to support Hamish's work in Samoa here" I'm sorry am I missing something? What work is Hamish doing? He's reporting? Rather give my money to the red cross. I like you Hammy but... what?