Selma, AL – Feb. 16-22, 2025

This week the volunteers numbering 15 were an international group.  There were volunteers from New York, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania.  By far the largest group consisted of college students from Winnipeg, Canada.

Work was done on the Reynold’s house.  Due to heavier than anticipated rain over the weekend, the footer walls had washed into the bottom of the trenches.  This meant the mud needed to be removed from around the already positioned rebar, some of it by hand.  As the week progressed the trenches were made ready for the first concrete pour next week.

At the Simmons house roofing, siding, and painting were completed.  The bathroom at the Women’s Shelter was prepped so that plumbing and electrical contractors could complete their work.  Interior and exterior work comprised activities at the Parker residence.

Because of scheduling and other factors, the meaningful work pillar became harder to fulfill towards the end of the week.  Considering this a number of volunteers helped at a local food distribution event on Thursday.  Some of the MDS volunteers were tasked with placing the food in vehicles as they came by. This was a highlight of the week for them. Upwards of several hundred cars came through the line.

Next week we start a new job at the Moore house and finish the concrete foundation pours on the Reynolds house.

Transitions this week were Steve, Christa, Greg, and Kathryn leaving. Doug Goertzen and Roland Stutzman are arriving.  Doug will be Project Director and Roland will be Office Manager.

Respectfully submitted by Roland Stutzman for the leadership team in Selma.