Updated: June 23, 2022
Learn more about Leadership Volunteers, what they do, and how to become one.
As of June 13, 2022, the following is required to cross the border: Travelers must be fully vaccinated to cross the Canada-U.S. border, and MDS volunteers do not meet the requirements for exemption as essential workers. No COVID-19 testing is required to cross the border. Contact the Volunteer Coordinator in your country with questions about crossing the border to serve with MDS.
Description: Hurricane Laura struck Louisiana on August 26, 2020 as a Category 4 hurricane. This hurricane was the tenth-strongest U.S. hurricane landfall by wind speed on record, with peak winds of 150 mph. On October 9, 2020 Hurricane Delta struck Louisiana in the same areas that were significantly affected by Hurricane Laura. Many homeowners had not returned home yet from evacuating from Hurricane Laura, and many homes still had tarps on their roofs from Laura. This area was also impacted by the Freeze of 2021 where many exposed pipes were frozen and then in May of 2021 received over 15 inches of rain.
Jun 25 - Jul 2 | 2 Crew Leaders |
Jun 25 - 29 | Assistant Cook |
Jul 16 - Aug 13 | Head Cook |
Jul 30 - Aug 13 | Assistant Cook |
Jul 30 - Aug 27 | 3 Crew Leaders |
Aug 27 - Sep 24 | 3 Crew Leaders |
Aug 27 - Sep 24 | Head Cook |
Aug 27 - Sep 24 | Assistant Cook |
Description: The Camp Fire started on November 8, 2018 due to a faulty electrical line and made worse by a drought in the area. By the time it was contained on November 25, 2018, it had become the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. At least 85 civilians were killed, and several civilians and firefighters were injured. The total damage from the fire was estimated at $16.5 billion, with one quarter of the damage uninsured.
Jun 18 - 25 | 2 Crew Leaders |
Jun 25 - Jul 30 | Crew Leader |
Description: The East Troublesome Fire occurred from October 14 to November 30, 2020. It burned 193,812 acres, destroying 580 structures and killing two people.
Jun 25 - Jul 16 | Assistant Cook |
Description: October 29, 2021 a significant flooding event happened along the eastern shores of Maryland in Somerset and Dorchester Counties. It impacted the Crisfield and Cambridge areas of the State. The reason for the flood was high tide, full moon and windy conditions all at the same time. According to some local people in Crisfield this event was more damaging than Hurricane Sandy in 2012. MDS’s response after Sandy was many home repair jobs and over 25 new homes in Crisfield area.
Jul 23 - Aug 27 | Project Director |
Aug 27 - Sep 30 | Project Director |
Description: In August 2021, the White Rock Lake fire destroyed 28 structures at Monte Lake, B.C. It was one of about 1,600 fires in the province during last year’s fire season.
Jul 30 - Aug 27 | 2 Crew Leaders |
Aug 11 - Sep 3 | Office Manager |
Aug 28 - Sep 3 | Assistant Cook |
Sep 1 - Oct 1 | Project Director |
Sep 1 - Oct 1 | Office Manager |
Sep 4 - Oct 1 | Head Cook |
Sep 4 - Oct 1 | Assistant Cook |
Sep 4 - Oct 1 | 2 Crew Leaders |
Sep 29 - Oct 29 | Project Director |
Sep 29 - Oct 29 | Office Manager |
Oct 1 - 29 | Head Cook |
Oct 1 - 29 | Assistant Cook |
Oct 1 - 29 | 2 Crew Leaders |
Description: Several flood events in the spring of 2015 damaged over 300 private stream crossings (bridges) in southwest West Virginia. Homeowners who cross streams to get to their homes are either driving through the stream bed, using a neighbor’s bridge if they can, or parking on the other side of the stream and walking across a temporary walkway or a neighboring bridge. Because these are private structures, the government cannot help directly, so the only potential assistance is voluntary organizations like MDS.
Contact Joyce Burkholder at 717-945-4136 or click the button below for more information about opportunities in West Virginia.
Sign UpUpdated: June 30, 2022
Learn more about RV Volunteers, what they do, and how to become one.
As of June 13, 2022, the following is required to cross the border: Travelers must be fully vaccinated to cross the Canada-U.S. border, and MDS volunteers do not meet the requirements for exemption as essential workers. No COVID-19 testing is required to cross the border. Contact the Volunteer Coordinator in your country with questions about crossing the border to serve with MDS.
Description: MDS Canada is building four homes for people who lost their houses to the 2021 White Rock Lake fire. Three are in Monte Lake; one is in Six Mile Creek, about 70 kilometres/40 miles away. The project, which will have hook-ups for up to five RVs, runs from mid-July to the end of September. RVs will be parked at the project site. Like other RV projects, this project will run four days a week for six hours a day. Unlike traditional RV projects, which are for people 55+, people from all ages are welcome! If volunteers serve for 2-4 weeks, MDS Canada will pay one-way travel. For those who serve 5+ weeks, MDS Canada will cover travel there and back.
Jul 17 - Sep 30 | Weekly Opportunities Available |
Description: The Cold Springs Fire started on September 7, 2020. This same day, about 80 other fires were also started in Washington state, caused by downed power lines and high winds. By the morning of September 8, the Cold Springs fire alone had burnt 175,000 acres. This fire burned nearly 300,000 acres along the Okanogan valley before it was contained. 78 homes and 60 other structures were destroyed, most of them on the Coleville Reservation.
Aug 15 - Sep 16 | 2 Spaces - Couples or Individuals |