Short-term volunteers
Click here to see current needs.
About short-term service
Short-term volunteers are anyone interested in serving with MDS on a project site for 1–3 weeks. Anyone is welcome to join us as an individual or as a part of a group.
As an MDS volunteer you will have opportunities to:
- use your trade skills
- learn new skills
- lead a short-term group
- assist with cooking
- interact with communities
- listen to the stories of disaster survivors
Anyone Can Volunteer
People skilled in construction and/or leadership are essential to MDS, yet we can use and train each volunteer, regardless of skill. Volunteers need to be willing to reach out to people in need, risk becoming a part of a new experience and serve with a positive and Christ-like heart. MDS provides on-the-job training for all volunteers.
How To Begin
To determine the current projects that are open for volunteers, check the PROJECTS section of our website., or contact the MDS office at 1-800-241-8111.
Canadian Volunteers please call 1-800-241-8111 then download this form:
Canadian Short-term Volunteers
Check our Frequently Asked Questions page for additional information.
Share Your Stories
MDS would like to include your stories, journals and pictures with others through our website. Click on the link below to e-mail stories about your time serving with MDS or photos of you and your group working at the project. All submissions will be used and edited at the discretion of MDS staff.
Pastors to Projects Program
MDS encourages pastors and their spouses to make time for serving as part of the MDS short-term work crews! Pastors or pastor couples are encouraged to sign up during our season of greatest need for volunteers - April to December – although you are welcome throughout the year. Feel free to sign up your carpenter friends to help out the same week as well (at their own cost).
In an effort to encourage the participation of church leadership at MDS response locations, full financial support for travel expenses to and from MDS project sites is available for pastors and their spouses upon request. (See reimbursement request form below at or call the binational office for a copy to be faxed or mailed to you.) If a church budget cannot support their pastor’s travel costs to/from an MDS service work week, we would encourage pastors to apply for this grant.
For complete information, download the documents below:
Pastors To Projects Reimbursement form
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.
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