“We got a lot of youth involved during the 1970s. I saw MDS as being the model for servanthood” – Nelson Hostetter, MDS coordinator 1971–86
“We took a group in a bus, 50 of us, loading it to the gills.” – Irvin Harms, volunteering after a super outbreak of tornadoes
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Ontario
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The next generation
Young adults become a key staple of volunteer responses along with identifying trained leadership.
BIG THOMPSON RIVER CANYON FLOOD July 31, 1976 – The Big Thompson flood stands as the worst natural disaster in Colorado’s recorded history, claiming the lives of 143 people. David King, then a student at Hesston College, remembers volunteering to help in the aftermath as his first hands- on experience with MDS. “During that experience of cleaning up after the devastation, I became very aware of the destruction and damage,” said King. “It gave me an outlet to use my skills and gifts to serve others in a unique opportunity. ” He has since been an MDS donor for decades.
Clean up in unknown location
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South Dakota
The Mennonites “just became part of the family. It
RAPID CITY FLOOD
HURRICANE HUGO
June 9, 1972 – Torrential rains in the Black Hills of western South Dakota sent torrents of water crashing down the slopes. Dams burst sending a devastating wall of water through Rapid City in the dark of night, becoming one of the deadliest floods in U.S. history. MDS volunteers responded. Of the 1,500 volunteers who registered, 50 percent were under the age of 25. On the basis of that experience, MDS Summer Youth Squads were organized in following summers, generating tremendous interest and response through the decade. A traveling version soon evolved, consisting of six to eight young adults with a leadership couple working together for six to 12 months, traveling from place to place, responding to disaster activity.
September 21, 1989 – After devastating St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the sprawling Hugo roared into South Carolina spreading havoc over hundreds of square miles. MDS placed volunteers in over a dozen locations. The widespread need and overwhelming constiutency response pushed the MDS network as never before. Over 7,000 volunteers gave more than 40,000 workdays to help with recovery efforts. MDS learned many lessons dealing with a disaster the size of Hugo, including the importance of having many trained leaders and that no one organization can do it alone.
took the edge off our hurt to know there are still people willing to give up so much so we could have shelter.” – Ann Matthews, Hurricane Hugo survivor, South Carolina Matthews family
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behind the hammer
behind the hammer
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