City Mission: COVID-19 gives chance to rebuild

On March 24 at 11:59pm, Aotearoa New Zealand went into lockdown as COVID-19 tightened it’s grip on the planet. We saw this global pandemic disrupt livelihoods, devastate economies, and take the lives of thousands around the world. In our own nation, COVID-19 has amplified the needs and challenges of thousands of people and families who were already struggling, hundreds of whom we have been able to help here in the Wellington region.

For us at The Wellington City Mission, we’ve certainly felt the forceful impact of COVID-19 on our own services. People and families across the Wellington region are feeling the financial pinch of this pandemic. 

As I reflect on the last six weeks, I know that we have acted with urgency and efficiency, and with kindness, compassion, wisdom, and empathy.  As an essential service, our whānau here at The Wellington City Mission, has continued to work through the lockdown. Our resources and staffing have been stretched to capacity to keep up with the demand.

In the five days following lockdown, we set up Te Paapori – a facility of 37 self-isolation units for our city’s homeless and rough sleepers to self-isolate in. We have also taken over the operation of the Wellington Night Shelter – now called Te Paamaru.

One week into lockdown we experienced a 400% increase in food parcel distribution, and six weeks later, we have now exceeded 55 per cent of our annual distribution of food parcels.

I’m extremely proud of our staff and what we’ve been able to accomplish, but of course, what we’ve achieved in the last six weeks wouldn’t have been made possible without the generous support of Wellingtonians. We have been in a privileged position to be able to help.

What we’ve seen on both a national and an international scale has been unprecedented. While our global resilience may have taken a hit, I believe COVID-19 has offered us a learning opportunity, and in this defining point in our history, we’re now able to do so much better than ever before.

We’re having some courageous conversations about what we offer, how we offer it, and how we can springboard off what we’ve been able to achieve throughout this period. One thing I know for sure, is that we’ll emerge from COVID-19 with an even greater conviction and greater potential to serve the last, the least and the lost in the Wellington region.

I encourage us all to take hope from our united fight against COVID-19, and all that it has taught us.

Murray Edridge
Wellington City Missioner