After the last earthquake we felt shaken but were grateful that people were safe. This time we do not have that consolation. Tragedy has visited us and people died as our beautiful city was torn apart. It is very hard to generate a feeling of hope but of course that is what we must do. The City Mission is located in the city centre and while there were no big buildings to threaten us we were unable to cleanup or use our buildings. In fact two of our buildings, Thorpe house our Social Detoxification building and The Pink palace will most likely have to come down. All our buildings were very badly shaken and glass and furniture was everywhere. Computers fell to the floor and filing cabinets and book cases fell like blocks. Thank God all staff and clients were safe apart from a few bruises and cuts. For some time after the quake we helped people contact those they loved and made sure that they had safe places to go to. In the background was the fear that we may a have lost people we loved. Our first task was to make sure that all our staff were safe and looked after. I then looked for places where we could set up a temporary office and get things going so that we could help those who needed us. By chance I heard of a place and proceeded to make arrangements to move in the next day. It is somewhat ironic that the venue was the Riccarton Club, a place of gambling and alcohol. The Club staff were wonderful to us and we soon got computers set up and managed to get our server and some basic supplies. All of the staff were housed in a large room and this helped us to avoid isolation and to support each other. We then proceeded to set up two food banks and a kitchen. We could not keep the Night Shelter open as it was in the cordon and toilets were a problem. We tried to contact our clients and arranged for hot meals to be distributed to various street corners. Over four days we gave out over 300 meals. We were very keen to re establish our Alcohol and other Drug Services and so looked for places to rent. In the midst of all this work, suffering, damage and anxiety there was a place of great safety and help. It was really not one place but a series of places found in people. Wonderful people from near and far gave us practical and emotional support. As the cordon has been lifted we are now back at the City Mission. We are minus a social detox house and possibly the Women’s Alcohol and Other Drug Centre which have been destroyed and have had to throw out food and goods that were damaged but we are on the go and looking for opportunities to help our mission family. Our work at the City Mission is now really only just beginning. While we have to continue to help those who need us we are also faced with many new people who never thought that they would need us. Redundancies and homelessness are forcing people to put aside their pride and seek help. We are eager to assist and will do so. Our services include a food bank, Men’s Night Shelter, Woman’s Alcohol and other Drug Centre, Women’s Drop in centre, Community Gardens, Budget Service, and Social Work Service. We are determined to get out into the community and find those who need help. We need to listen to their stories, give them practical help and ensure that they are given the help they need. We deal with the most vulnerable people in our sad and damaged city and now our client base has extended to a new group of people.