September 26, 2023
Red Lake: A Photo Essay
Red Lake homeowner Sandra Brown laughs during a video interview
On July 26, 2021, a tornado struck the Red Lake and Redby areas in the Red Lake Nation, Minnesota Mennonite Disaster Service has been repairing and replacing damaged siding, windows and doors.
An MDS truck pulling up to a project site on an early foggy morning gets greeted by a local dog eager to meet the day’s volunteers.
A timid dog grew fond of volunteers working nearby. The dog was hiding behind an SUV, from a distance, when this photos was taken.
Kathy Waltner, MDS Volunteer, unloads lumber from a truck in preparation of repairing a deck.
Galen Waltner, MDS Volunteer, assess the structural integrity of a deck. Salvageable lumber was reused.
Rex, MDS Volunteer, explains the different types of stews used for lumber to a yearlong volunteer.
Mary Joyce Wise, MDS Yearlong Volunteer, disassembles a deck in preparation of stabilizing the existing structure.
MDS Yearlong Volunteer listens intently to project leadership during a deck repair.
Mary Joyce Wise, MDS Yearlong volunteer, removes rotten wood from a deck surface.
MDS Volunteer from Manitoba Canada finds leverage to remove planks of wood from a deck.
Jonathan Snyder, MDS Yearlong Volunteer, unloads lumber from an MDS Truck. Much of the lumber was from over an hour away as the local community didn’t have a lumber yard.
Jonathan Snyder, MDS Yearlong Volunteer, unloads lumber from an MDS truck in preparation of deck repair.
Lucinda Shirk. MDS Yearlong Volunteer, removes nails from decking in order to reuse good material.
An MDS volunteer trims siding in preparation of install.
Adam Blough, MDS Yearlong Volunteer from New York, works to plumb a new window.
MDS volunteers go through a food line during the Red Lake Closing Celebration hosted by the nation. MDS Cook Marj smiles at the camera.
Red Lake homeowner Sandra Brown laughs during a video interview with MDS Communications staff.
