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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.

2009 RV Program Report

Summer 2009

An RV program is operating in Green Valley Lakes, California under the direction of the California MDS Unit.

For current needs at projects, click on Urgent Needs button at right.

Fall 2009

MDS will be running two RV projects in the Gulf Coast this fall and winter starting in October. The fall dates for the projects are:

October 5-29

November 2-26

November 30-December 17

Cheek, Texas RV Project

Cheek, Texas is located on the southern edge of the city of Beaumont on Hwy 96 about 85 miles east of Houston.  Hurricane Ike struck Cheek on September 13, 2008 and caused significant damage in this area. MDS will be repairing homes damaged by Hurricane Ike.

New Iberia, Louisiana RV Project

New Iberia, Louisiana is located in Iberia Parish (county), 30 miles southeast of Lafayette in the heart of Cajun country.  Homes in New Iberia received some damage during Hurricane Rita and then again by Hurricane Gustav on September 1, 2008 and Hurricane Ike on September 13, 2008. MDS will be repairing homes that were damaged by these storms.

Winter 2010

MDS will be running two or three RV projects in the Gulf Coast this fall and winter starting in January. Locations and information for the Winter 2010 RV Program will be posted in October/November. The winter dates for the projects are:

January 11-February 4

February 8-March 4

March 8-April 1

April 5-29

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.

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)

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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