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OUR MISSION

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.

MDS HELPS THE MOST VULNERABLE

MDS is the organized response of our churches to the needs of "neighbors" in time of disaster. We endeavor, in the spirit of Christian love, to follow Christ's example by giving time, talents, and energies to help relieve suffering caused by disasters.

We understand the ministries of listening, cleanup, repair, reconstruction to be examples of "the cup of cold water" given to those in need.

MDS focuses on helping the most vulnerable: the elderly, the handicapped, single parents, the unemployed, the uninsured and the underinsured. Our focus is on helping those who are not covered by traditional means of recovery.

THE MDS NETWORK

The MDS network is divided into five regions of response. There are four regions in the United States and one region in Canada. Each region is managed by regional officers and a regional director.

Each MDS region is divided into units. Units often follow the geographic boundaries of provinces and states.

MDS’s Administrative offices are located in Akron, Pennsylvania. and Winnipeg, Manitoba.

GOVERNANCE 

MDS activities are governed by a board of directors in conjunction with a board of delegates.

The board of directors meets several times per year while the Board of Delegates is an advisory group designed to meet one time per year to carry advice and guidance from the many constituencies to the MDS Board of Directors, and alternatively, to carry the messages and decisions back to their constituency groups. The Board of Delegates serves as an advisory group to the board of directors.

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.

How to Volunteer

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.

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