Fixing the fleet: volunteers make sure MDS stays on the road

Sixty-eight trucks?! Fifty-one cargo trailers?! And that’s only a small part of the Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) fleet, which collectively clocks more than 600,000 miles to respond to disasters in a single year.

Who keeps all those vehicles running? MDS volunteers! Currently, they’re working at the MDS warehouse in Columbus, Mississippi—a hub for vehicles, tools, trailers, and other parts of the fleet in the southeast part of the United States. The Columbus warehouse is centrally located between tornado alley and the southern states that are hit most often by hurricanes.

MDS volunteers are focusing on maintaining vehicles and equipment returning from projects, getting the fleet ready for upcoming projects, and light vehicle repairs.

Elmer Roach, who attends the University Methodist Church in Lake Charles, Louisiana, drove with his wife in their RV to volunteer at the warehouse recently.

“I worked on the shower trailer, washing it down on the outside, and straightening the skirt that goes around it,” he said.

After working in construction for 30 years and working in an industrial plant for another 26 years, Roach is retired and ready to use his experience and skills to serve with MDS. “It’s always a good experience,” he said.

He has previously worked as a driver for Amish volunteers and helped move equipment around during the MDS hurricane response in Lake Charles.

Now he’s ready to expand his commitment to MDS. “My wife and I are leaving on the 23rd of September to go to Hesston, Kansas, for MDS leadership training,” he said. “We want to be leadership volunteers in the RV program.”

To volunteer at the Mississippi warehouse, visit mds.org

Did you know?

The MDS fleet has…

68 trucks

51 cargo trailers

33 cargo tool trailers

30 RV camper trailers

26 passenger vans

20 minivans

19 dump trailers

15 deck over trailers

9 shower trailers

6 semi tool trailers

4 kitchen trailers

4 bunk trailers

4 roofing buggies