MDS is monitoring the potential impact of Hurricane Milton

MDS is monitoring Hurricane Milton

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Beyond the Project

Are you unable to serve on an MDS project, but still want to participate in the work of MDS? These year-round service opportunities are for people of any age who would enjoy volunteering with MDS beyond MDS projects. Many of these tasks take place behind the scenes but are essential to the work of MDS volunteers who clean up, repair and rebuild homes.

Volunteer From the Comfort of Your Home

Group standing together in prayer
Project Prayer Partners

You will be matched with a specific MDS project to pray for volunteers, homeowners, and community partners.

  • Would you like to connect with a certain project location? Or do you know some of the volunteers who will serve on a project?
  • Staff will connect you to project leadership so that you can support them with  specific prayers for volunteer skills, homeowners, concerns within the community, etc.
  • You are encouraged to read the weekly reports on the website and pray for: the volunteers currently serving, volunteers who have been there, homeowners, local community, and staff that regularly support the project.
  • Suggested ways to connect to the project: phone call, Zoom call, notes of encouragement/scripture, sending a devotional, sending notes directly to the project for homeowners, individual notes to the leadership volunteers, etc. Other creative ways to connect are welcome!
Sign Up or Get More Information
The Housewarmer Project

Volunteers are invited to sew wall hangings for MDS homeowners. The wall hanging is presented at a home dedication. Contact the Lititz office for more information.

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Volunteers working on framing look up for direction form a crew leader
Financial Support

Donations to support the ongoing work of MDS volunteers are appreciated. One-time and monthly donations help position MDS to respond, rebuild and restore in the wake of disaster. MDS can be named as a beneficiary in planned gifts like estates, wills, and trusts, and donors can support underfunded and underreported disasters through the MDS Legacy Fund.

Learn More About Donating

Share Your Stories

Do you like to write? Inspire others? – MDS welcomes sharing your writing gifts in the following ways:

Do you have a story showing how God is working through MDS? Please contact us for consideration of publication in Behind the Hammer, On the Level, on social media, or on the MDS website.

Share Your Story

Do you have an MDS tip, trick, or resource that might be useful to Leadership Volunteers? Submit it for consideration for publication in the “On The Project” newsletter.

Share a Tip

Would you like to write a devotional for the Summer Youth Curriculum? MDS sends out a devotional for youth groups to use prior to or during their week of service.

Learn More
Spread the Word About MDS Volunteering

Share your experiences with friends, your church, and/or other local churches. MDS is continually in need of leadership and weekly volunteers. You are our best recruiters, because you can share your experiences of helping homeowners get back in their homes. MDS can send you resources, literature, videos, and more for an event.

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As Needed

Local Unit and Region Leadership

MDS is organized in five geographic regions. Each of the regions are organized into units which relate to their region and organize and respond to local disasters. Volunteers are needed to serve on Unit and Region committees, boards, and local disaster responses.

If you are interested in getting involved in this please contact our office 1-717-735-3536.

Organizing and Preparing Equipment at the MDS Warehouse in Columbus, MS

Vehicles, trailers, and tools come back from projects needing to be repaired, organized, and/or prepared to go out to upcoming projects. Lodging or RV hookups are available on site.

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Photo of volunteers constructing kitchen and bathroom cabinets inside the MDS Cabinet Shop in Goessel, Kansas.
The MDS Cabinet Shop

The Cabinet Shop is located in Goessel, Kansas and is run by Region 3 volunteers. Volunteers serve from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday–Thursday every week. Work includes various aspects of cabinet building/finishing and packaging for shipment. Volunteers from other states will need to find their own lodging when volunteering here.

Contact Cleo Koop Project Director, cleohkoop@gmail.com or 316-282-0797 for more information.

Vehicle and Equipment Mover

Are you interested in moving vehicles and equipment to or from MDS project locations? Previous experience pulling trailers is preferred, a CDL is not required but is helpful in some situations. Typically, volunteers go in groups from PA, OH, IN, VA, or MS/AL due to the convenience of their location for transporting vehicles and equipment to or from the MDS Warehouse in Columbus, MS.  Trips can last from 2 days to a week.

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John and Kim posing for a photo at Monte Lake
Leadership Volunteer Mentor

MDS can arrange for a new Leadership Volunteer to be paired up with an experienced Leadership Volunteer who serves as a mentor. New Leadership Volunteers can approach their mentors, seeking tips and advice about project leadership. As a mentor you can pass on your wealth of on-the-ground experience as an additional resource to new volunteers. You will need to have served as an MDS Leadership Volunteer, be available for occasional phone or email correspondence, be encouraging, have a teaching spirit, and effective interpersonal skills.

Become a Mentor
Assisting at Leadership Trainings

Being a resource person at training helps new volunteers learn and grow from your experiences. Your leadership experience will provide project knowledge as well as sharing and relating stories to offer various ways of handling situations. You may be able to attend via Zoom or attend in person.

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A large group comprised of 17 youth pose for a group picture at the Jennings base camp
Provide Meals for Trainings

Trainings are located in Lititz, PA and across the U.S. and Canada. Homemade meals are always appreciated at our trainings. The schedule for training events is listed here.

Learn More

Beyond the Project will continue to be updated with new ideas and suggestions, so stay tuned for more ways to be involved with MDS.