Self-improvement and unceasing effort, serving Binhai — Post-disaster record of Funaite in the Development Zone
Release Time:
2015-08-21 17:12
Source:
Funait Laundry
On August 12, 2015, the massive fire and explosion accident at Tianjin Port became the focus of national attention. Among all the Funait stores in Tianjin, several of our Funait stores suffered varying degrees of damage due to their proximity to the accident site. The Taifeng Jiayuan store in the Development Zone is 2.5 kilometers from the accident site; on the day of the incident, more than half of the store's door and window glass was shattered, and part of the ceiling inside the store fell. The Tianbao Jinhai'an store in the Development Zone is 2.3 kilometers from the accident site; on the day of the incident, the door handle was damaged, the door frame deformed, and multiple ceilings inside the store fell, causing a power outage in the car wash area and employee dormitory. The Yujingyuan store in the Development Zone is 5 kilometers from the accident site; on the day of the incident, the door handle was broken by the shock. The Zhongxin Ecological City store is 8 kilometers from the accident; on the day of the incident, one of the store's glass doors was completely shattered. Among the five stores we operate, except for the Hangu store, the other four suffered varying degrees of damage.
Seeing the tragic condition of several stores, we had no choice but to repair the stores as soon as possible. On the second day after the incident, rumors of a secondary explosion circulated online, causing many nearby residents to evacuate; on the third day, many people worried about air pollution and evacuated further. Seeing many surrounding shops closed, we also considered whether to close if no customers came, but customers still came—some to pick up clothes, some to drop off clothes, and some disaster-affected residents came to our store looking for donated clothes because they had none to wear. We felt we could not close; our normal operation was very valuable. On the fifth day after the incident, when the residents of the most severely affected nearby community returned home and brought 48 pieces of clothing needing cleaning, and took the few clothes they had left at Funait, we became even more convinced of the significance of staying and persevering. Although some nearby laundries closed, our Funait could not close; we must stay to provide the most convenient service to customers.
After the explosion, some employees in the store were frightened by various online rumors, and some took leave to return to their hometowns out of fear. One week after the incident, only eight employees remained in the four affected stores. My husband and I visited each store daily, partly to arrange work but mainly to let the remaining employees know that in the most difficult times, we as owners were always with them. I told the staff that our persistence in operating at this time was not for profit, as they could see the turnover was pitifully low during this period; we were truly doing it for the convenience of customers. We were, in fact, volunteers in another role. The remaining employees felt proud of the work they were doing.
On the third day after the incident, several stores in the Development Zone were able to open after simple repairs, at least looking less devastated. I saw many friends volunteering on social media; although I currently lacked the energy to volunteer on the front lines, I thought we could still do something. So I contacted the president of the Development Zone Volunteer Association and told her that our Funait stores could provide free laundry services for volunteers, and to contact me anytime if needed. The president was very happy and said that after this busy period, some volunteer vests might need cleaning. That day, I changed the content on the electronic screens in each store to: "Self-improvement, serving Binhai! Funait stores can provide free laundry services for volunteers!" I also posted on social media that day: "Recently, Funait stores have received many donated clothes (including summer wear). If anyone cannot return home and has no clothes to wear, please contact me directly; I left my phone number below. Also, all stores can provide free laundry services for volunteers; if needed, please contact me." Subsequently, refugees came to the stores looking for clothes, and the donated clothes we received began to serve the disaster area near us even before being transported to the western mountainous region.
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