MDS opens call centre for volunteers

Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) has had more bi-national project sites open at the same time than ever before in its 50-year history.

The increase has led to the creation of a call centre to make it easier for MDS volunteers to sign up for disaster recovery projects.

Since September 2005, some 8,000 volunteers have served with MDS in the Gulf Coast and more than 3,000 have volunteered in tornado-stricken Kansas.

Previously, volunteers had to call each individual project location in order to find an opening.

Short-term and all US volunteers will now call 800-241-8111, to schedule time at a project while long-term volunteers from Canada will continue to call 866-261-1274.

MDS foresees many benefits to this call centre model including a reduction of the work load at MDS project offices, and freedom for project staff to concentrate on rebuilding their communities.

—Andi Dubé for MDS