Rural Canterbury is continuing to offer support to its neighbours, four years on from the region's first big quake.
The Malvern district communities around Darfield and Hororata were at centre of the first 7.1 magnitude earthquake on September 4, 2010, but when the next big quake struck Christchurch on February 22, 2011, the local community rallied to help the city and the support continues to this day.
In the days following the February quake, members of the local Baptist, Anglican, Catholic, co-operating parish and the wider community joined forces to form Malvern Community Help.
Volunteer Bev Elder said the network had evolved into the Malvern Community Hub to provide ongoing support to quake-devastated communities in east Christchurch and the rapidly growing population around Darfield.
''We have collected up toys, books, blankets, clothing furniture and food both for here in Malvern and for people in the city. We have set up a food bank and we run a community van.
''When anyone comes in wanting to help but isn't sure how they can help, we say `anything that a neighbour can do to help a neighbour'. It could be as simple as making scones.''
The hub was now part of the newly formed Two Rivers Community Trust, which had three areas of focus - the hub, social housing and youth.
Mrs Elder said the trust was advocating for social housing for a growing over-65 population in the Darfield area and planned to make a submission to the Selwyn District Council.
''Our definition is homes in an intentional social setting, and wrapping people in care in that social setting.''
The population of Darfield is increasing steadily, as families move out from Christchurch following the earthquakes and workers come to work in the Fonterra dairy factory, placing pressure on the limited housing options and pushing up rents. ''The council has said it has no appetite for social housing, but we're trying to [say] that they need to have some sort of support for the most vulnerable in the community,'' Mrs Elder said.
''If you look at elderly people, if they surrender a three-bedroom home and they don't want to go into the city, there's not a lot of options for them out here.
''Some of the loneliest people are people who are uprooted from here and placed into a care facility in the city where they don't know anybody, and they get very depressed.''
'If you look at elderly people, if they surrender a three-bedroom home and they don't want to go into the city, there's not a lot of options for them out here. ''Some of the loneliest people are people who are uprooted from here and placed into a care facility in the city where they don't know anybody, and they get very depressed.''
Mrs Elder said the hub was now operating from the Darfield Library, Open sessions were on Thursdays from 10am to 2pm.
A newly formed Darfield Citizens' Advice service was open at the library on Tuesdays from 10am to 2pm. She said the trust hoped to acquire a community house for the hub to operate from in the future.
''As Gandhi said, `there's enough for man's need, but not for man's greed'.''