On May 28, the Government of Manitoba declared a provincewide state of emergency as wildfires intensified, threatening communities in northern and eastern Manitoba. Evacuation orders have been issued for the city of Flin Flon, Pimicikamak Cree Nation...
After a mile-wide tornado tore through southern Kentucky on May 16, Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) volunteers from Ohio are engaged in early response, removing damaged trees and debris in the London and Somerset communities. MDS Regional...
What’s “mitigation” mean? Simply put, it means “building back better.” That’s something Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) volunteers do wherever they serve. For homeowners, mitigation means being able to sleep at night knowing that their...
“It was his orientation. He was always helping.” Gord Friesen reflected on his father Cornelius (C.N.) Friesen’s volunteer history with Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS), a commitment that spanned more than a half-century. C.N.’s personal...
Young people and “good works.” That’s the heart of a new trades program at Rosedale Bible College in Irwin, Ohio. The first set of 11 students, through a partnership between the college and Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS), completed six weeks...
Susan Kim, MDS Writer Residents of the Stoney Creek community in western North Carolina drove the last screw and cut the ribbon on their new bridge on April 4, seven months after Hurricane Helene destroyed it. The bridge is the second to...
Sometimes, experiences with Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) come full circle. This was the case for Deb and John,* who were introduced to MDS in 2008 when John was invited to volunteer on an MDS assignment in New Orleans, Louisiana. He “caught the...
By Rachel Horst Several weeks before we left for our assignment in Merced, California, we had a realization. Between state and national MDS projects, this would be our 60th assignment! Don’s first time serving with MDS was helping clean...
Charlie, a 14-year-old chihuahua, was sunning himself in the front yard. His owner, Kaylin Bertelsen, led the way past him into her damaged home in Planada. In a tumble of words, she recalled the night of Jan. 9, 2023, when floodwaters overtook her...
Sign up to learn how you can help support MDS and receive the latest updates on our work.
