July On the Level features MDS stories

The July edition of On the Level is now available from Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS). In the current issue: Kevin King shares some lessons learned in the wilderness; an MDS family project is bringing a new look to a campground in Wyoming; and a long-time project director talks about why he continues to serve with MDS. Click on this link…

MDS March newsletter is now available

The March edition of On the Level is now available from Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS). In this issue: Executive Director Kevin King shares his experiences of working on an MDS project in Dulac, Louisiana; a home dedication in Kentucky provides visible reminders that God cares; and MDS Canada returns to Cape Bretton to repair damage from Hurricane Fiona. To read this…

MDS shares long-term response to Hurricane Ian

The November edition of On the Level is now available from Mennonite Disaster Service. In this issue: Learn about the MDS long-term response to Hurricane Ian in Florida; read about volunteers responding to Hurricane Fiona in Atlantic Canada; and learn about a new Web page with volunteer opportunities closer to home. Also included is information on the upcoming MDS Annual…

MDS assesses damage from Hurricane Ian

Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) is currently assessing the damage caused by Hurricane Ian. To donate toward relief efforts or to join a volunteer waitlist, see the MDS website: https://bit.ly/MDSHurricaneIan.

MDS offers yearlong service opportunity

The MDS Yearlong Volunteer Program provides a one-year service opportunity for volunteers to enhance their leadership skills and to help bring people home after disasters. Volunteers serve in a group from August to July at various Mennonite Disaster Service projects, experience multiple cultures and communities across the United States and Canada, and build meaningful relationships with disaster survivors and other…

MDS offers service opportunities for families

Did you know Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) has service opportunities for families? The MDS Family Program (https://mds.org/family-program) offers a weeklong summertime experience for the whole family to put hands and feet to the gospel. This year, MDS is planning to offer a family project in both the U.S. (Camp Amigo, Michigan) and Canada (British Columbia). To learn more, call 800-241-8111…

MDS plans tornado response

Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) has Early Response Teams investigating several of the sites of last week’s tornadoes to help determine how and where MDS will respond. Many of their partners via the National Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) which specialize in search and rescue, damage assessment and cleanup are already responding. Together with their NVOAD partners and local officials,…

MDS program offers travel reimbursement for pastors

Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) welcomes active, constituent pastors and their spouses to a hands-on MDS experience at an MDS project site in the U.S. or Canada. To encourage pastor participation, the Pastors to Projects program offers travel reimbursement. To learn more, see https://mds.mennonite.net/pastors-to-projects.

MDS newsletter details partnership with the Brethren Church

The June edition of On the Level is now available from Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS). In the current issue: MDS and the Brethren Church formalize a partnership of caring, the last houses in the Land of Hope are dedicated, bringing to completion a three-year effort, and youth across the U.S. are packing their bags to embark on MDS Summer Youth programs.…

MDS shower trailer ‘restoring dignity and hope’ for homeless individuals in Colorado

From the generous hands of the Maple Grove Mennonite Church in Hartville, Ohio, a shower trailer traveled to Denver, Colorado, where it will help homeless people restore a sense of dignity in their lives. Volunteers from the church built and used the shower trailer in 2012 when they helped Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) rebuild a church in Alabama. When they…

MDS seeks volunteers for plumbing repairs

Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) volunteers have been helping to restore water in Texas homes damaged by a major February ice storm. More volunteers are needed for plumbing repairs. Read the March edition of On the Level, the MDS newsletter, for details: http://bit.ly/OnTheLevel3-21.

Mennonite Disaster Service Early Response Teams head to Texas

Lititz, PA — Early Response Teams from Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) are heading to Texas with a focus on repairing broken pipes and waterlines so residents hard-hit by the recent deadly ice storm can make their first step toward recovery. The storm sent some 29 million people into a state of crisis and, though power is back on for many,…

MDS newsletter includes upcoming projects

The August edition of On the Level is now available from Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS). In the current issue, you can read how MDS volunteers with Early Response Teams are working in Iowa and learn about engineers rolling up their sleeves in West Virginia and helping to build bridges they designed. You also will find out how MDS is cautiously planning…

MDS launches new e-newsletter

Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) has launched On the Level, a monthly online newsletter. The May issue includes the story of MDS volunteers helping a victim of multiple disasters return home even after closing down the project. Read On the Level online at https://bit.ly/OnTheLevelMay2020.

MDS, Everence and MCC launch COVID-19 Congregational Relief Fund

GOSHEN, Indiana — Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS), Everence® and Mennonite Central Committee U.S. (MCC U.S.) have joined together to launch a COVID-19 Congregational Relief Fund to aid churches facing financial crisis due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The new fund was seeded with a combined $550,000 commitment from MDS, Everence and MCC U.S. The fund will be administered by Everence…

Scheduling is open for MDS Summer Youth Program

The MDS Summer Youth Program is a week-long service experience designed for youth (ages 15+) and their sponsors to put hands and feet to the gospel by serving others. If your youth group is interested in spending a week with Mennonite Disaster Service at a Summer Youth Project location, please register online at http://bit.ly/MDSSummerYouth to submit a request for your…

MDS seeks volunteers

Mennonite Disaster Service has an urgent need for volunteers in several locations, including Puerto Rico. Please see https://mds.mennonite.net/volunteer/current-needs/ for details.

MDS responds to flooding and tornadoes in western Ohio

The Western Ohio Unit of Mennonite Disaster Service has been responding to damage caused by flooding and tornadoes during May. Read the MDS report for more information: http://bit.ly/2019OhioMDSReport.

MDS has urgent need for volunteers

Mennonite Disaster Service has an urgent need for volunteers at several locations in the United States and Canada during May and June. To learn more, please see https://mds.mennonite.net/volunteer/current-needs/.

Ted & Co. show to raise funds for MDS

Ted & Co. TheaterWorks will be performing at South Union Mennonite Church on March 30 at 7 p.m. The show, The Jesus Stories: Faith, Folks and Fettuccine, written by Ted Swartz and starring Ted and Jeff Raught, will be interspersed with a themed auction of baked goods. The show is free, but the money raised from the auction will be…

Ted & Co. TheaterWorks Performance

Mennonite Disaster Service seeks volunteers for fall and winter

Mennonite Disaster Service is seeking weekly volunteers for October, November and December 2018. Join us as individuals or groups to help those affected by disasters. We are working in the following locations: Lake County, California; Pine Ridge, South Dakota; Victoria County, Texas; La Grange, Texas; Fort Myers, Florida; West Virginia; Williams Lake, British Columbia; and Puerto Rico. Serve with a…

Lockport Mennonite to host MDS fundraiser

Ted & Co. is bringing its newest event, “Boots, Buckets & Barrows,” to Lockport Mennonite Church in Stryker on Sunday, July 29, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. This event is part theater/part auction, to raise awareness, funds, and volunteers for Mennonite Disaster Service. The event will feature the show The Jesus Stories: Faith, Forks & Fettuccine, written by and starring Ted Swartz,…

Boots, Buckets and Barrows — A Fundraiser for Mennonite Disaster Service

Ted & Co. is bringing its newest event, Boots, Buckets & Barrows, to Stryker, Ohio, on Sunday, July 29, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. The performance is being hosted by Lockport Mennonite Church, 9269 County Road 21 N. in Stryker. This event is part theater/part auction, to raise awareness, funds, and volunteers for Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS). Please come prepared to…

Mennonite Disaster Service seeks volunteers

Mennonite Disaster Service has an urgent need for volunteers to serve in Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Texas and British Columbia. See the MDS_Update_for_April_25_2018 for more details.

PeaceLab podcast focuses on hurricane relief

The latest episode of the PeaceLab podcast focuses on Mennonite Disaster Service’s response to Hurricane Harvey in Texas. In this episode, co-hosts Hannah Heinzekehr and Jason Boone talk with Kevin King, executive director of Mennonite Disaster Service. Go to http://bit.ly/PeaceLabMDS to listen.

MDS scheduling volunteers for fall

Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) is now scheduling volunteers for its fall projects. MDS will be working in the following locations from Oct. 8–Dec. 15: Lake County, California – Wildfires Pine Ridge, South Dakota – Straight Line Winds Lafayette, Louisiana – Flooding Greenbrier, West Virginia – Flooding West Virginia Bridges – Flooding To register to volunteer, go to https://mds.mennonite.net/volunteer-registration.