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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.

The RV Program is set-up to provide assistance in areas where a full MDS project is not warranted. It was conceived in order to utilize volunteers who are able to work a shortened week of 24 hours and live in their own self-contained recreational vehicles.

The program is set up for volunteers to work in increments of four-week duration, and work weeks of four days, six hours per day. The design is to attract retired or semi-retired volunteers who, for various reasons, desire to work fewer hours than a traditional MDS camp setting of 40-45 hours weekly. MDS provides free-of-charge the RV parking site with full hookups including a minimum of thirty AMP electrical services, a water hookup and a means of black and gray water disposal. In addition, volunteers may request a fuel (diesel or gas) reimbursement for travel according to the MDS RV Program guidelines. Where possible, laundry services and telephone hookups are provided. RV participants prepare their own meals. When a couple volunteers together to work on an MDS RV project, one spouse is expected to work. The other spouse is encouraged, but not required to work.

Each RV project is organized with a Project Director and an Office Manager. The project accepts work assignments from local disaster recovery committees who are part of the local community. An RV team has been able to build a new home in 2-3 months time.

2008-2009 RV Program Season

The first phase of the 2008-09 work period began on October 6, 2008, and ended December 16, 2008. One team built a house in Marble Falls, Texas and one team built a house in Newton, Texas.

Marble Falls RV Project
Marble Falls is 48 miles northwest of Austin, Texas. This project was a new build in October, 2008 and had six couples working under the Project Directors, Jake and Verna Martens. A new house was started in January 2009.  Seven couples have been confirmed to work there in January and February, 2009. Warren Siemens will be the Project Director.  A new team will come in to complete the house in March. At this time the project is full.

Click here to go to the Marble Falls webpage.

Newton, Texas RV Project
Newton is 70 miles northeast of Beaumont, Texas near the Louisiana border. The project completed a new build between October 6, 2008 and December 16, 2008 under the direction of project Directors, Walt and Pat Willems. A team of six couples began a new house in Newton starting in January 6, 2009 under the direction of project Directors, Frank and Irene Goertzen. The project is full for both months  and will close at the end of February.

Click here to go to the Newton RV webpage.

California RV Project
A RV project in California has not as yet materialized. Please check this page for updates.

Deweyville, Texas RV Project
Deweyville is located about 12 miles north of Interstate 10, north east of the city of Orange, Texas.  This team is full and confirmed for January-March, 2009. A new two bedroom house is planned.  Art and Judy Catlin are the Project Directors.

Click here to go to the Deweyville web page.

MDS continues to investigate needed areas for RV projects starting in the fall of 2009.

For more information on the RV program contact the MDS office at (800)241-8111, Canadian volunteers contact  Evelyn Peters-Rojas at epetersrojas(at)mds.mennonite.net or (866) 261-1274 (Toll Free).

Applications
All interested volunteers from the U.S. or Canada need to have an application on file in order to be approved for MDS service in the RV Program. Applications may be downloaded from this website. Click on the link below to download the appropriate application. The RV Program Coordinators are available to answer questions and assist in planning.

Those who have previously worked on an RV project need not submit a new application. However, to volunteer again you need to keep the RV Program Coordinators informed of the dates of your availability.

RV Program Volunteer Application (for couples)
RV Program Volunteer Application (for individuals)

Updated February 16, 2009

The fall Marble Falls RV Project House in progress.

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.

More Info

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