Be protected, study one thing new—and have enjoyable! – Mennonite Disaster Service

Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) first-time Project Director Lowell Peachey, and his spouse, first-time Office Manager Rita Peachey, shared why they appreciated main the Summer Youth Program, a weeklong service expertise for highschool youth.

The Peacheys, from Hutchinson, Kan., served this previous summer time in Perry, Fla., the place MDS has a historical past of serving to catastrophe survivors get house after hurricanes, together with Idalia (2023), Helene (2024), and Debby (2024).

Guiding younger folks via finishing repairs starting from changing sliding doorways to repairing sheetrock, from putting in new ceiling panels to rebuilding sub-flooring, the Peacheys marked their fourth time serving with MDS.

“I had been a crew leader all the other times so I had some familiarity with it,” mentioned Lowell.

“It was a big learning curve for me,” mentioned Rita, who had beforehand served as an assistant cook dinner, however she caught on rapidly.

Will they function management volunteers once more? “Definitely!” each mentioned. In reality, they’ve already dedicated to main the Summer Youth Program subsequent yr.

“I enjoy teaching young people skills and watching them perfect those skills,” mentioned Lowell. “A year ago, we had a group of 18- and 19-year-old women who were hanging and finishing drywall. They’d never done that but they did a great job. Those kinds of things are really exciting.”

Each week, the Peacheys had a three-prong focus: security—particularly hydration—given the new Florida temperatures, studying one thing new, and having enjoyable with the work.

“Much of the week saw the volunteers working without A/C in sweltering conditions,” mentioned Lowell. “A theme that was revisited during the week was the notion that we should be thankful for what we have and the example we have from our families and communities for how to live and serve.”