“Fantastic news!” MDS bridges are holding strong

College students working through Engineers in Action were among many Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) volunteers who built driveway bridges in West Virginia and other communities.

After reports of various flood events in many communities, here’s the good news: MDS-built bridges are holding!

“This is fantastic news!” said Ethan Gingerich, Bridge Program Director for Engineers in Action. “Even if the bridge only lasted for one season, it would have an immense effect on the family’s ability to access essential resources and opportunities like healthcare, jobs, schools, friends and family, and more.”

That access is even more critical during and after natural disasters, Gingerich noted.

“But the fact that they’ll be able to reap these benefits for years and years to come is even more inspiring,” he said. “Helping people help themselves is at the core of engineering, and it’s hard to put into words how fulfilling it is to put our engineering skills to use in a way that can improve the lives of people in need in such a significant way.”