Who We Are
Mennonite Disaster Service is a volunteer network through which various constituencies of the Anabaptist church can respond to those affected by disasters in Canada and the United States.
While our main focus is on clean up, repair and rebuilding homes, this activity becomes a means of touching lives and helping people regain faith and wholeness.
Latest News
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MDS has begun clean up from Hurricanes Ike and Gustav
September 29, 2008 -
Why people of faith matter after Gulf hurricanes
September 25, 2008 -
From an Ordinary Church Parking Lot
September 19, 2008 -
MDS Releases Funds to Anabaptist Churches for Evacuees of Hurricane Ike
September 16, 2008 -
The Day After the Storm
September 16, 2008
Click below for all news articles
Quilted Wall Hangings
Since November 2004, MDS house dedications include the gift of a quilted wall hanging to the new homeowners. The wall hangings are made and donated through the Mennonite Church USA Mennonite Women's group. If you are a quilter and would like more information on this program, e-mail MDS at communications@mds.mennonite.net.
MDS Begins Clean up in Texas and Louisiana
Updated October 6, 2008
Jerry Klassen, Disaster Response Coordinator and Jerry Grosh, Director of Field Operations, continued their investigations in Texas and Louisiana last week. In Cameron, La. Klassen reports that “everything that was down at three feet or less is destroyed. Not one mobile home is left in place. The damages are heartbreaking.”
Several mobile homes that MDS volunteers had renovated after Katrina and Rita are damaged beyond repair. At one location where MDS built a roof over an RV, the roof is fine, but the RV is gone. Another mobile home where MDS put on a metal roof is nearby. All that was left was the frame of the trailer and the roof lying about 50 yards away.
The needs in Cameron are great and MDS plans to return to the community and open a project site in January 2009. The camp site in Cameron where MDS was based in the past will be available for MDS to use again. The office trailer was relocated by the storm, but remained on the property. The damage to the trailer is not extensive. Klassen and Grosh met with local agencies and started lining up work for the project in January.
Emergency Response Teams from Missouri and Oklahoma are traveling to Smith Point, Texas to start clean up and bring hope to the desperate situation there. Klassen reports that “at this time, no one has been in there to do any work.”
Cots, a kitchen, washrooms and a temporary shower will be arranged by the local Fire Chief. “The folks will bring their own food and cooks and we expect a great outpouring of God’s Grace as the team arrives in Smith Point.”
In Pasadena, Texas, a local Mennonite church is reaching out to survivors of the storm. They are distributing food, water, clothing and furniture to anyone in need. MDS will release funds to the Pasadena Church to help them provide food, medicine and other emergency items.
Other MDS projects in the Gulf are progressing. All permits are in place to begin building five new homes this winter in the Grand Bayou, La. area.
The foundation for the Partnership Home project house that was started in September by Akron Mennonite Church was damaged by the storm. When the water recedes the foundation can be repaired and the work will continue. Akron Mennonite Church has plans to finish the foundation and send in carpenters in October.
Our work with Hurricane Gustav and Ike has only begun. Contributions are being accepted for the recent hurricanes. If you wish to give, please designate your gift as follows; “2008 Gulf Coast Hurricanes: Gustav and Ike.”
Volunteer
MDS volunteers are known for repairing and rebuilding homes damaged by disasters. But it takes more than construction skills to serve with MDS. During the time that you serve as a volunteer, you will learn that MDS also restores lives.
Donate
Your contribution will help to connect volunteers with disaster survivors who need assistance on their path to recovery. MDS depends on the support of people who believe that disaster response is an important part of helping those who are in need.
Newsletter
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MDS Locations
Mennonite Disaster Service project locations are the physical response centers established by MDS in a disaster-affected community. In addition to housing the local MDS office, the projects function as base camps for MDS volunteers who need a place to eat and sleep while they serve. This section of the MDS website contains updated information about current MDS projects.
Project maps best viewed with Microsoft Explorer.