News photo: MCC workers honored for earthquake reconstruction funds

Mennonite Central Committee
Friday, 12 October 2001

AKRON, Pa. -- Residents of Jalia Diwani, western India, honored Fern and David Gerber, right, of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), Sept. 26 for MCC's contribution to rebuilding the village. Jalia Diwani was one of many villages in Gujarat State hit by a severe earthquake in January.

MCC contributed $476,000 Cdn./$300,000 U.S. for building materials in Jalia Diwani.

David Gerber and MCC are named on a plaque marking the foundation stone for the village's new water tank.

Rubble is still being cleared in Jalia Diwani, so residents are constructing their village about 1 kilometer (.62 mile) from its original location. Their plans include the water tank, a community center and three-room homes for each family.

At left is K.V. Thomas, of CASA, the relief agency of the Indian Council of Churches. CASA is administering MCC's contribution through a program in which participants receive food rather than cash for their work in the community.

David and Fern Gerber, of Hesston, Kan., are members of Whitestone Mennonite Church, Hesston. They work as country co-representatives for MCC in Calcutta.

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