Volunteers with the Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) of Lititz, Pennsylvania, are in Liberty County, Texas, preparing to start work on five flood-damaged homes next week. The mission is part of the organization’s decades-long commitment to responding to disasters by rebuilding homes and restoring hope.
Fred Miller, a longtime volunteer with MDS, shared the organization’s origin and mission. “MDS began in the 1950s with a mission to respond to disaster, rebuild homes, and restore hope,” he said.
According to the MDS website, the mission statement reads: “We strive to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those affected by disasters.” The organization focuses on assisting homeowners who cannot afford the costs of repairing their homes after a disaster, many of whom are economically challenged.
“The people we help may have cleaned up their homes but have no way of paying for someone to come install new sheetrock or flooring or to fix a roof,” Miller explained.
The five homes selected for repair next week are primarily based in the Liberty area, though some are located about 20 miles outside the city but still fall within a Liberty, Texas, zip code. Miller is part of a team of roughly a dozen volunteers, some of whom have traveled from Canada and Idaho. Miller himself hails from Virginia.
While many volunteers share the Mennonite faith, the team also includes those from other Christian backgrounds, united by a common desire to serve.
“Most of us are 70 or older, retirees,” Miller said. “Instead of taking our RVs to Florida or Texas for three months, we do this to serve others. Plus, we still have weekends free to relax and explore the area.”
Given the age of the volunteers, projects are carefully chosen to match their capabilities.
“We tend to do flooring and drywall replacements, minor roof repairs, or plumbing work. We get a lot done with just a dozen of us,” Miller added.
One of the projects starting Monday involves a woman suffering from Alzheimer’s whose home was damaged during the 2024 flooding. While she was able to purchase the necessary supplies, she couldn’t afford to hire a contractor. The MDS team will lay new flooring and replace two exterior doors.
Another project, located five miles away, involves a home that suffered extensive flooding.
“The homeowner has already removed the drywall about four feet up the walls, so we will be reinstalling the bottom sections of drywall. We’ll also repair a damaged bathroom,” Miller said.
Liberty County is assisting by allowing MDS to temporarily store building materials at a county building.
For those interested in supporting MDS and their efforts, donations can be made through their website at https://mds.org/donate-usa/.
God bless you MDS and Mr
Miller!! Prayers. And thanks be to our heavenly Father for what you all do! Safe travels and thanks so much!