Who We Are
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.
Latest News
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Hesston Graduates Second Disaster Management Program Class
May 4, 2008 -
Eastern Virginia Tornadoes
April 30, 2008 -
Local MDS Units begin Clean-up in Arkansas
March 27, 2008 -
Canadians serving with MDS in Louisiana receive blessing.
February 29, 2008 -
MDS builds new house, Pastor can thank God for Katrina.
February 20, 2008
Arkansas Tornadoes
By Scott Sundberg, Director of Communications
MDS units are actively responding to the Friday, May 2 tornadoes and storms that hit in Arkansas, north of Little Rock. Ted Hostetler, a local MDS volunteer, said today that he and other MDS representatives were working and directing in areas where tornadoes hit. It seems that there were several tornadoes, and they hit from an area called Birdtown in Conway County, on over to Damascus area in Van Buren County.
Right now MDS has 28 people, mostly women, walking the fields picking up debris. Also, they have chainsaws and will begin clearing debris and trees and limbs. There are MDS crews lined up to work for the next couple of days.
Ted told a story of a widow lady whose home was devastated by a tornado. She mentioned how sad she was, as she had just purchased a new blouse and skirt, tags still on it, and they were taken away by the storm. Later her niece found the new blouse in the field nearby. The widow then expressed that she sure would also like to find the skirt. Soon someone drove up and had her skirt! He had found it hanging up high in a tree—three miles away.
Her niece lived in a double-wide across the road. The home was demolished by the storm. The niece had not heard any warnings. When she heard the storm coming, she picked up her baby, but as she was trying to leave the structure, her large entertainment center fell on her. She fell over the baby. But Ted said it was the hand of God that protected them, because there wasn’t even a scratch on them, and they were left unhurt.
Local MDS units are working very closely with OEM (Office of Emergency Management). Mr. Hostetler said FEMA is coming in today (May 5).
Destroyed House in Arkansas
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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MDS Locations
Mennonite Disaster Service project locations are the physical response centers established by MDS in a disaster-affected community. In addition to housing the local MDS office, the projects function as base camps for MDS volunteers who need a place to eat and sleep while they serve. This section of the MDS website contains updated information about current MDS projects.
Project maps best viewed with Microsoft Explorer.