Mennonite_Disaster_Service
Mennonite Disaster Service
Network for disaster relief in North America
The Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) is a volunteer network through which various groups within the Anabaptist tradition assist people affected by disasters in North America.[3] The organization was founded in 1950 and was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 1993.
The MDS currently involves more than 3,000 members of the Mennonite, Amish and Brethren in Christ churches (BIC).[4][5][6] The primary focus of the service is cleanup, repair, and the rebuilding of homes.[7] The work of the group supplements the disaster relief provided by the Red Cross.[8][9] The Mennonite Disaster Service also works closely with Mennonite Central Committee.[4]
A quarterly newsletter called Behind the Hammer is published.[10]
The volunteer amateur radio group Mennonet provides communication services for MDS.[11][12] Radio equipment was first deployed by MDS in 1960.[4]