MDS Partners with United Way

Mennonite Central Committee
Saturday, 21 October 2000

BURGAW, N.C. -- In a public ceremony that celebrated community partnerships and faith in God, disaster survivor Lucille Jordan crossed the threshold of her new home. Jordan's was the first house in North Carolina to be built through a collaborative effort of Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) and United Way.

More than a year after the flood waters of Hurricane Floyd devastated eastern North Carolina, the Oct. 12 dedication of Jordan's home was as much a pep rally for the work that remains as it was a celebration of what has already been done.

Speaking to more than 100 people in Pender County, where hundreds more still live in damp and moldy homes, MDS Executive Coordinator Tom Smucker highlighted the value of partnerships in bringing resources together.

"As we come into your community we want to work as closely as we can with your local government, with your faith groups and with your community development organizations," he said. Smucker spoke on behalf of more than 500 MDS volunteers who have served at the Burgaw Project in Pender County since last November.

"I cannot say enough about the United Way and their support in allowing us to use their dollars to build a home like this," he added.

MDS received a grant from the Cape Fear Area United Way for $179,754 to be used for building materials. Coupled with MDS volunteer labor, these funds can rebuild four homes.

Quoting a passage from Hebrews, Smucker called on the crowd to direct their attention to the volunteers and their desire to honor and glorify God's name.

And they did.

In a blessing prayer, Reverend Bill Rogers, Director of Crisis Coordination for the United Way, expressed a spirit of thankfulness to the Lord. "We come together to celebrate the reality of this humble dwelling as it stands ready to provide shelter for one of Your faithful servants," he prayed.

In his own address, Tom Dugard, president of Triangle United Way, noted that a disaster begins before the doors are opened on emergency shelters and continues through the completion of "monuments to caring" such as the Jordan home.

"Caring for your neighbor will come back and bless you in so many ways," he said.

Government officials stated at the ceremony that hundreds of millions of federal and state dollars have been set aside to help the disaster survivors in North Carolina through grants, buyouts and Small Business Administration loans. But officials also acknowledged that much paperwork must be done before these dollars turn into building materials for organizations like MDS.

"[The buyout] process is a fairly slow process," said Pender County Manager Martin Beach. "It's exactly like buying a house and closing on it. And if you've ever done that, you know the work that you've got to do."

Partnerships like the one with United Way have enabled MDS to keep working in North Carolina while waiting for the distribution process of government funds.

Leza Aycock, representing North Carolina's governor's office, said the work in Pender County "truly is a partnership."

"And I will commit to you that I won't stop," he added. "I know Governor Hunt won't stop, and the rest of our folks will not stop until everybody has the kind of bright shining day that Mrs. Jordan is going to have today."

For more information, or to contact Mennonite Central Committee, see their website at: www.mcc.org