In Salina, Kansas, MDS unit volunteers make a difference

Salina, Kansas storm damage

Some MDS Kansas Unit volunteers were sitting in their regular task force meeting on the morning of June 11.  After all the business had concluded, they were discussing the week’s high wind thunderstorms and local rain accumulation totals; as one does when “shooting the breeze” in Kansas in the spring. When two members of the group realized none of them had heard about any MDS response to the Salina storm damage, they decided to follow up with a phone call to Lynn Newcomer, MDS CCP at Salina Mennonite Church. Lynn said they had many requests for help cleaning up from the immense amount of trees and limbs down as a result of the over 100 mph winds all over Salina. Lynn’s call to the county emergency managers resulted in a request for help at 10 addresses.

These two gentlemen then got on their church email chains and called for anyone who wanted to join them on Friday and Saturday mornings to drive to Salina and help clear trees.  Both Wayne and Bob were in communication with Becky King, Region 3 Administrative Assistant, who helped make sure they had blank job cards and volunteer information forms printed and ready to take Salina.  Wayne Stucky had a crew of five, including local CCP Lynn Newcomer, working all day.  His crew completed four property clean-ups that day. Bob Ratzlaff and his crew worked in Salina all day Friday as MDS volunteers continued to help with the hundreds of requests that had come to emergency managers as a result of the storm.

Wayne Stucky Crew taking a break for lunch in Salina

We love that this is one of many ways MDS is serving as the hands and feet of Jesus in disasters both large and small!  One local individual and congregation with a nudge from the holy spirit makes a phone call and follows-up with an invitation to their local community to serve together. Their work restores hope by being the hands of Jesus to those affected by disaster. It is also a good reminder that we can ALL be the one who decides to make that call and be assured that MDS staff and resources are there to support us.

Wayne reports that there is still work to do in Salina, KS.  If your church, family, or friends would like to help with this clean-up for MDS, please get in touch with Becky, your congregational CCP, Kansas Unit Member, or Salina Mennonite Church.  You can always call the MDS office to get this information if you don’t know how to contact or organize your local volunteers!

By Becky King