MDS Canada announces summer Family Program in Princeton, B.C.

Families looking to spend some time together and do some service for others can do both this summer in Princeton, B.C. through the Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) Canada Family Program.

Through the Program, families will do landscaping and build garden sheds for people in the town whose homes were damaged by flooding in November 2021.

“Volunteers have been cleaning out and repairing homes since last December, making them livable,” said Kelsey Friesen, Volunteer Manager for MDS Canada.

“Now we want to help them beautify their properties by fixing the grass and planting gardens so they can get back to normal inside and out.”

The Program will run for from July 17 to August 13. Families can sign up for a week on a first-come first-served basis, she said.

Each week there will be three to four families with children; there will be age-appropriate work for all volunteers, Friesen said.

MDS Canada will provide food and campsites for RVs, tent trailers, and tents, supervision, tools, meals, and hard hats. MDS Canada is not providing accommodations; families should bring their own RVs, tent trailer or tent, and lawn chairs and work clothes.

Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation to and from the project; power and water hookups should be available.

“It’s a great opportunity for families to spend some quality time together and help others,” said Friesen, adding vaccinations are not required, based on current B.C. health guidelines.

In addition to the Family Program site in Princeton, MDS in the U.S. is offering a Family Program service opportunity at the Amigo Centre in Michigan.

Princeton is located in the Similkameen region of southern B.C., at the confluence of the Tulameen and Similkameen Rivers and at the junction of BC Highways 5 and 5A.

For more information, contact Kelsey Friesen at 1-866-261-1274.