notes from the field
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Grant and Joan Kowalenko in Monte Lake, British Columbia
Goshen College, Indiana
“We would love to double the size of this program to both match the growing interest in the degree as well as meet the demand of local health systems for additional nurses in the workforce,” Bontrager said.
The couple, parents of two children and grandparents of five, have served with MDS before—it’s the seventh time for Grant, 76, and the fifth time for Joan, 78. As for spending their anniversary at Monte Lake, “it was like being at an all-inclusive resort,” joked Grant. “We had all you can eat meals, a full schedule of daily activities, and time in the sun.” “It was great to be around so many young people,” added Joan. A perfect anniversary get-away, in other words. building called “Westlawn,” where the college’s dining hall is located on the first floor. The second and third floors were residence halls but have served only as storage space since 1995. Local MDS volunteers and Goshen College students and alumni are demolishing the interior of Westlawn—removing ceilings and knocking down cinder block walls. Goshen College’s nursing program typically has 80-100 students enrolled, explained Ben Bontrager, vice president for operations.
KENTUCKY
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Flood survivors need volunteer help—now “The need is overwhelming,” said Larry Stoner, MDS regional operations coordinator, describing the aftermath of the historic deluge in late July that killed 38 people in a rural corner of eastern Kentucky. Only one percent of properties in the hardest-hit counties have federal flood insurance. “We would like to respond in several communities—in Breathitt, Clay and Perry counties— and we just don’t have
Couple celebrates anniversary by serving with MDS For their 51st anniversary, Grant and Joan Kowalenko wanted to go somewhere with great food, meaningful activities, engaging people, interesting scenery and good accommodations. That’s why they chose a week of service with MDS in Monte Lake, B.C., helping rebuild homes for wildfire survivors.
the volunteers right now,” said Stoner. Early Response Teams from MDS are already on the ground, mucking out homes before harmful mold gets worse. Many homes took in several feet of water. MDS is ready for more volunteers with accommodations at two sites—Hindman United Methodist Church and Camp Nathanael in
INDIANA
Volunteers help Goshen College expand space for nursing program Out with the old, in with the new! In response to a growing demand for nurses, Goshen College is expanding its nursing facilities from 6,000 square feet of classrooms and simulation labs to 18,000 square feet of teaching space dedicated to the sciences. The additional space is coming from repurposing two floors of a
14 behind the hammer
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