Recent MDS volunteers in Florida were Albert and Erna Heide of the Winkler, (Man.) MB Church. Erna describes their work as follows:

Nine people from southern Manitoba flew to Florida Oct. 31 to help set up the MDS camp for the many volunteers who will come to repair homes in Wauchula, damaged by hurricanes.

The MDS project directors are Jerry and Doreen Klassen of Kelowna, B.C. They had been very busy for two weeks, and had many details in place.

Three construction-type trailers had been moved to the Northside Baptist Church to house the volunteers. One trailer includes an office. The church is sharing their kitchen and dining area with MDS. They have also been generous in sharing their building with another congregation, due to hurricane damage to the other church building.

Of the 7,500 homes in Hardy County, 5,500 of them have roof damage. Most of these homes have blue plastic covering the roof to keep out the rain. A community has a committee which assesses the needs of the people and then directs the cases to the different agencies. MDS targets the under-insured or non-insured homes, with special attention to the elderly and handicapped.

Our priority was to prepare the trailers for the many volunteers that will be coming over the next two years. Our group built porches, rooms, bathrooms, and did plumbing, electrical work and painting.

After the work at the MDS camp was done, we were able to work on several roofs in the town, as well as an old church building.

Our getting out there gave the people hope that help is on the way. They are very grateful for the help. God is faithful in providing everything that is needed, and we feel blessed to be able to help.

—Erna Heide

MDS camp in Wauchula, Florida

MDS volunteers repair damaged roof

To check projects currently needing volunteers, go to mds.mennonite.net, or contact MDS office at 1-866-261-1274.

Mennonite Disaster Service – Who are we now?

Winnipeg, Man.

Mission and organization

MDS represents Anabaptist churches and conferences in Canada and the U.S. by responding in Christ’s name to those affected by disasters in both countries. While our main focus is on cleaning up, repairing and rebuilding homes for those unable to do so by themselves (seniors, single parents, widowed, uninsured, underinsured, disabled, financially disadvantaged), this activity becomes a means of touching lives and helping people regain faith and wholeness through listening, empathizing and advocating. These responses happen locally, nationally and bi-nationally.

Mennonite Disaster Service began as an arm of MCC. However, it became its own entity, incorporated in Canada in 1994, with legal separation completed in 2002. This separation has meant that both organizations needed to define their roles regarding disaster response: MDS responds to disasters in Canada, the U.S. and their territories, and MCC responds elsewhere. Both groups assist the other where this makes sense.

The change also means that MDS needs to have its own assets and operating funds to be able to respond to disasters, and therefore has responsibility for all fundraising to meet program expenses. In 2004 at least $300,000 had to be raised across Canada to send volunteers and operate projects.

Volunteers

MDS offers service opportunities to volunteers of all ages, abilities and time commitments, ranging from one or two weeks to two years. MDS in Canada supplies the majority of long-term and many short-term volunteers to disaster responses in both countries. Between Aug. 2003 and July 2004, 836 Canadians (plus youth and local project volunteers) served from one week to four months. An office and staff in Winnipeg help volunteer MDSers promote MDS in Canada and prepare and process Canadian volunteers.

Projects and current needs

Bi-national projects kept Canadian volunteers busy this past year at more than 10 U.S. locations and Barriere, B.C. The 2003 firestorms in Barriere/Louis Creek B.C. gave opportunities to clean up over 50 yards and build five new homes. Six youth/young adult groups built a total of 25 garden sheds and landscaped 22 yards over the summer while interacting with local residents.

Currently projects are open in Arcadia, Fla. and Palacios, Tex. in response to 2003 and 2004 hurricanes. A project responding to 2003 firestorms in Julian, Cal. is moving from cleanup to home rebuilding.

Receiving while giving

The volunteers who give of their time and energy to the work of MDS are helping those in need but also receive many gifts in return. Their interaction with homeowners and the chance to share Jesus’ love using hammers and saws and a listening ear is a gift you cannot fully know until you have been there. A recently returned volunteer described her highlight as a home dedication where the homeowner walked in and said, “Look at all the family I have now!” (referring to all the volunteers present) and then seeing her gratefully take the Bible presented. Hers had been destroyed in the storm.

—Lois Nickel, MDS administrative coordinator