Emergency and Crisis Response

Our commitment to supporting communities across the motu includes mobilising our services when situations arise and things unexpectedly go wrong.
Why is it needed:

In a crisis, access to clean laundry and water for hot showers is unlikely to be a high priority, but it is crucial for maintaining health and dignity. 

During these challenging times, communities can be left without access to power, flood-damaged clothing and belongings or left with only the clothes on their backs. 

When disaster strikes, clean laundry and warm showers can be a simple and helpful aid to get back on their feet.

Our role in a crisis (response):

At Orange Sky, we continuously monitor crises to determine if and when we need to mobilise our services.

When a crisis occurs, we either reach out to local civil defence or emergency management agencies, or they contact us to assess our potential involvement.

After establishing the need, we follow a straightforward protocol:

  • Assess availability: Determine if we have an asset (e.g., a van) close by to deploy.
  • Ensure safety: Confirm that it is safe for our teams to operate in the affected area.
  • Volunteer readiness: Check if we have available volunteers who can assist.
  • Support systems: Verify that essential support systems are in place, such as power, water, and accommodation (usually provided through evacuation centers).
  • Make the decision: Decide whether to mobilise based on the above criteria.

Once the decision to mobilise is made, we then spread the word and raise awareness within the community about our presence and services. We reach out to supporters at these times to ask whether they can donate to maintain the mahi and support for the communities who face these challenging situations.

 

Community benefits from our crisis response:
Immediate relief and support
The largely mobile nature of our service means that when a crisis occurs, whether it be near or far, we can be agile and relocate to affected communities to provide immediate support.
Community collaboration
Where possible we will work alongside other community support services and government organisations. This ensures we have the right information and can support communities safely and in the right places and times.
Whanaungatanga
From our experience, having our six orange chairs has been vital to our response. It allows those affected to sit and talk to our trained volunteers. The aroha and kōrero that happens in these times can make a considerable difference to building community resilience and providing a level of comfort during an often overwhelming and challenging time.
What you're supporting
Julie and Glenda, a friend and a volunteer at Orange Sky
Wāhine (Women's) Support
Free Laundry and Showers
ORANGE SKY AOTEAROA
Emergency and Crisis Response
Kaitiakitanga and Innovation