Crisfield, MD – Feb. 9-15, 2025

These winter weeks are going so quickly!  We are never quite sure what each week will bring, but we know for sure that it will bring a group of new volunteers that are ready and willing to get to work!  This week we have short term volunteers from a variety of areas.  Two men are here from Ohio, one from PA, and three couples from VA.  It was another good week of getting to know one another and building relationships.

Monday found the crews headed to the new build to build the railings for the new steps that were completed last week, and to continue the inside work on the Baptist Church.  The day was sunny but cool, and possibly the only dry day this week, the weather predicts.

And yes, as predicted, snow began to fall on Tuesday shortly after lunch.  By the end of the workday we had around five inches!  The volunteers building the stairs were not about to give up and persevered till quitting time to finish the stair project!  Several other volunteers went to a new job site to do prep work in advance of a new elevation on a home here.  Several others were at the Baptist Church starting to put up drywall.  By afternoon, the sprinkler system we were waiting on had been installed at the new build and inspections passed!   We are ready for indoor work on the new build now!  And just in time, as it looks like a few wet days ahead.  By evening it was raining and then when the snow melted the street in front of the new build and  church was totally covered with water!

The rest of the week was spent putting up the drywall board at the new build and also at the Baptist Church.  Most of the volunteers were new to this, but did a great job and it is now ready for the mudding/taping process!  Volunteers also moved Chase out of his home into the MDS house for residents whose homes will be elevated.  The plan is that his house will be raised on Monday.  He is very excited!

Thursday evening Kim Hopkins, from the Long Term Recovery Group, joined us for our evening meal.  She shared lots of history from this project over the years and the long term relationship between the recovery group and MDS.

Most of the weekly volunteers left by Friday evening, except for two, so a quiet Friday evening ended the week.  Adam, one of the year long MDS volunteers who is serving here, left on Wednesday to attend the 75^th anniversary celebration in  Kansas, and we look forward to his return on Sunday.

Long term team – Adam Blough, Ron & Char Roth, Dick & Sharon Schock and Mike & Linda Stuckey