Mennonite Disaster Service

06/02/2026

What does it mean to show up for a community you have never met?

Anna Wiebe, a student at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, Ontario, has done it twice now. First in Amory, Mississippi, and most recently in Denare Beach, Saskatchewan, where wildfires destroyed 200 homes last summer. She travelled six hours by van with a group of Grebel students and staff to help MDS volunteers rebuild.

"Being involved in small-scale acts of dedication to each other and the land gives me a sense of hope."

In her article, Anna reflects on what keeps bringing her back and why volunteering with MDS has been such a meaningful experience for her.

Read the whole article here - https://uwaterloo.ca/grebel/news/volunteering-joyful-practice-and-radical-resistance -ig-eafa91d1-6311-4ac2-9934-3349998833ef

05/28/2026

The MDS Summer Youth Program (SYP) is a week-long service experience designed for high school youth and their sponsors to put hands and feet to the gospel by serving others. We still have available spots for this years Summer Youth Program projects in Spencer, Iowa, and Perry, Florida.

The dates and location information are as follows:

Spencer, IA (SYP):
up to 7 volunteers June 28-July 4

Perry, FL (SYP):
up to 4 volunteers June 28-July 4
up to 8 volunteers July 12-18

Learn more and join the list here - https://mds.org/summer-youth-program/

05/26/2026

Two and a half years after the Lahaina wildfire took everything, the Yadao family is home. Thanks be to God.

This moment was made possible by a community that refused to quit. Over 7,500 hours of volunteer labor. Partnerships with Ho'ōla iā Mauiakama Disaster Long Term Recovery Group , Hawai'i Community Lending , Lahaina Community Land Trust , and so many local partners and volunteers who showed up and stayed the course. This is what it looks like when people come together with a shared commitment to something bigger than themselves.

As Bhejay Yadao said at the blessing of his family's new home, 'When we couldn't rebuild alone, you helped us rise.'

To every MDS volunteer who gave their time and skills in Lahaina, this one is yours. And this is only the beginning.

Check out the full video at the MDSMennonite YouTube

05/22/2026

On March 17th, MDS was presented with the Key to the City of Douglas, Georgia, an honor we humbly accept on behalf of every volunteer who responded to Hurricane Helene. When Helene tore through Coffee County in September 2024, families lost homes, roofs, and a sense of safety. MDS volunteers from across the country answered the call, showing up with skills, tools, and hearts ready to serve.

Together with our partners, the work resulted in nine new homes built and more than one hundred roofs repaired for residents with limited resources. None of that happens without the dedication of our volunteers or the resilience of the people of Douglas who never stopped pushing toward recovery. We are grateful for the recognition and even more grateful for the opportunity to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus.

05/20/2026

Mennonite Disaster Service is hiring!

We are seeking an IT Manager to oversee MDS’ technology infrastructure, ensure system security and efficiency, and align IT operations with MDS goals.

If you or someone you know has strong IT experience and a commitment to the Anabaptist faith, we invite you to apply at https://mds.org/job-opening/it-manager/

Send your cover letter and resume to [email protected]

Help us spread the word!

05/19/2026

The community pictured here in Ironton was struck by Hurricane Ida on August 29, 2021, one of the most destructive storms in Louisiana history. Ida ranked as the second-most damaging hurricane ever to make landfall in the state, behind only Katrina in 2005, with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph at landfall.

Some of the homes you see in these photos are the standard for MDS construction in storm surge prone communities, built to withstand severe weather and reduce flood damage in vulnerable communities.

MDS needs volunteers with a wide range of skills, including construction supervisors, office managers, drivers, cooks, weekly volunteers, and yearlong volunteers. See how your skills can make a difference for communities still recovering from storms like Ida:

https://mds.org/ways-to-volunteer/

05/14/2026

Twenty-two volunteers, including 15 Goshen College students, arrived in Lahaina, Hawaii on May 4th ready to work. Some came with no prior construction. By the end of the week, they were hanging drywall and setting tile in the Maui heat across four job sites.

The team visited the community-led roadside memorial on the Lahaina Bypass, built to honor the 102 lives lost in the August 8, 2023 wildfire. Standing there together, they were reminded of why this work matters and the hope that rebuilding can bring to a community still healing.

Lahaina, we are not done yet. Thanks be to God for every hand that showed up.

05/12/2026

MDS in the news!

Click the link to read the CHVN article:
“Hope returns to Denare Beach as MDS rebuilds homes after wildfires”

Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) says recovery work in Denare Beach is continuing months after wildfires tore through the northern Saskatchewan community, destroying homes and leaving many families in long-term displacement. Executive Director Reynold Friesen says the impact of the disaster is far f...

05/11/2026

We need crew leaders this summer. Crew leaders are the backbone of every MDS project. They organize the work, support weekly volunteers, and build relationships with homeowners and community partners on the ground.

If you are a motivated leader who works well with others and feels called to serve, these dates still have openings:

May 28 - June 6, Crisfield, MD
June 13-20, Spencer, IA
June 18-27, Perry, FL
July 2-18, West Asheville, NC
August 1-15, Spencer, IA

Crew leaders serve a minimum of 4 weeks and are the backbone of every MDS project. If you are a motivated leader who works well with others and wants to make a lasting difference, we want to hear from you.

Follow the link for more information and to apply.

Leadership Volunteers are responsible for the day to day operations of an MDS project. The MDS Recreational Vehicle (RV) program is a vol...

05/08/2026

Congratulations to our faithful leader at MDS, Kevin King, for accepting the National VOAD Leadership Award.

Over 20 years of service. Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Harvey. The California Wildfires. Puerto Rico. Saipan. Maui. And countless communities in between, met with steady, faithful leadership.

We are grateful and humbled. Well deserved, Kevin.