Disaster partnerships and why partnerships matter

Ok let’s be clear – I didn’t say disastrous partnerships – although those can also happen!

As many know, we at VAN (Village Action Network) run a disaster response program. Within this we partner with Disaster management, other organisations as well as our ward counselor and many amazing individuals.

Six months ago, we entered a new partnership – with South Africa’s favourite self storage company, Stor-Age. By providing us with a safe and secure unit at their Pinehurst self storage property, our network and partnership reach was able to expand by leaps and bounds. I’m particularly grateful for the trolleys provided at no cost at the facility on which I can move donations from my vehicle to the unit and then from the unit to my vehicle again. Oftentimes my car is packed to the brim, but I can manage without assistance because everything is well organised both inside and out! Stor-Age partners with a variety of NPOs across the country as part of the community upliftment campaigns – all at no cost to the NPO.

Whereas previously we provided a new 20-liter bucket (provided by Plascon Paints, another partnership) which were filled with food staples, as well as blankets; we are now, because of the storage provided by Stor-Age – able to do so much more!

Household items like crockery, bedding, mattresses and more! So, when the call comes in – as it did when 6 homes were destroyed by fire in Fisantekraal in October and another this past weekend, we are ready to jump in and provide immediate relief. It doesn’t replace the trauma and the loss, but – we are able to come in and connect the victims to the support networks they need.

Having been at the site of these massive destructive losses – which happen especially with fires, we have learned some Important lessons.

1. The quicker we can assist people to replace IDs, birth certificates and bank cards, the quicker they can get back on their feet. Nelleke Meintjies (another amazing partner) runs an ID assist program from Fisantekraal which is instrumental in getting this done.
2. Having DSD (Department of Social Development) meeting victims as soon as possible after the event, sets them up to receive a disaster relief grant. No one will get rich off this, but it really does help them. We are forever grateful for the hard work and dedication of the DSD social workers who make things happen.
3. When you are unemployed and you lose everything, it’s really hard to have hope. But because we at V.A.N are connected with other amazing individuals and organizations like Olympians Social Development (OSD), LIV ECD, churches, Rotary & Lions and Victim Empowerment Support, we can offer next steps from which hope can glimmer. Among others, OSD run restoration programs for women which empowers them to overcome trauma and become work ready, Victim Support offers a safe haven to debrief and together this network of care and support comes alongside victims to change the worst day of their lives into the day that may open the door for new opportunities and real HOPE.
4. Keeping a non-profit running  can be tough! But with the help of amazing people – like those at Stor-Age and others, we can build partnerships that allow us to do so much more than we would on our own.

So, wherever you are, if you need a storage solution,  Stor-Age has safe and secure stores all over the country (over 60, with over 25 in the Cape), so please support them!   To be able to help others when disaster strikes please hit the DONATE tab on our website and consider either a once off or a monthly amount to help support the work we do.

If you are looking to support Stor-Age as they have supported us, you can visit their website at www.stor-age.co.za or call them on 0861 18 18 18.