KNYSNA NEWS - "The week of the Knysna fires has found its way to the deepest parts of my memory banks. It is a week which I, for one, will never forget."
This was said by manager Mike Rabkin from the Serenity Care Centre. "Besides the traumatic events, the frightening feelings of hopelessness and powerlessness and the terror of the unfolding chaos, I will never forget the heartwarming goodness that was shown. I will never forget the way in which my perceptions of a cold and uncaring humanity were forever changed."
"I manage Serenity Care Centre, a place who has been part of the Elandskraal community for the last 20 years. This place has been a cornerstone of the addiction treatment industry for just as long. Lynn Allen has spent the better part of her career showing people that life and love are the answer to fear and despair, but never was this message as clearly demonstrated as in the last week," said Rabkin.
The 26 patients at Serenity and the 16 staff members who were on duty on Wednesday, June 7 were quickly shown that Lynn's messages about love and kindness are not only some clichéd catchphrase regurgitated upon people looking to better themselves. "Humanity can be good. People can overcome despair. This too shall pass. One can't help but ponder on the relevance of the Serenity prayer," said Allen.
Though our losses are severe and much rebuilding will need to be done, Serenity Care Centre is still in business!
Horrific rumours of total destruction were luckily only that –rumours Serenity lives on to continue the legacy of showing others kindness and love, but it is only because of the kindness and love shown to us by the local community.
• When we had nowhere to evacuate our precious patients to, the Turbine Hotel gave us a roof to feel safe under.
• When the electricity and water were not available, Lynette Newnham and Carine Bryant cooked us food and offered pillars of strength.
• When the roads were blocked, the Sedgefield Lions Club brought us essential groceries.• Deliveries of goods from Sedgefield came pouring in, from Cleone Vanston, Scholl International, Knysna Presbyterian Church and Vineyard Church.
• Offers to help came from all over the country including Smiths Plumbing, El Facer, Algoa FM and Dover on Sea B&B. Some chose to help with pet food, for which we are so grateful. There are many more, though I fear my memory is a little unreliable at the moment.
"I say thank you, and I truly feel the gratitude.
As of now, we have bounced back. Thanks to you all, we have restored power, reconnected the water, cordoned off the damage and made the facility safe to continue our business of teaching love and life. We have been able to demonstrate recovery in its absolute sense, but only thanks to the community.
"I would like to formally thank those who have already been mentioned as well as those who remain unknown to me, the donors of food, water, toiletries and groceries to the collection points. To those who assisted by putting their lives on the line, Working on Fire, the Department, EMS and the chopper pilots to name just a few of the bravest.
"And then there's the Serenity team, showing commitment and care that was second to none. Some choosing to go and care for the patients, as they would their own children, others standing right beside me, fighting the fires with such passion. You are my new heroes. Thank you!
"Perhaps most importantly, don't stop being kind. The most devastating tragedy that could unfold from this fire is if we were to return to the cold, uncaring disconnected people from before. Black or white, young or old, the message is clear: together we can – and we proved it. There is no division of the human race, except in our own minds. Let us all recover together, one step at a time," concluded Rabkin.
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