Mennonites, Amish helping Phil Campbell recover

...This week, the Mennonite Disaster Service brought in its first 13 volunteer workers from Lancaster County, Pa., who will rotate out when another group of Mennonites and Amish workers replace them Sunday.
Their first construction project is nearly completed — Camp Bell — which will eventually be able to house 40 workers who could stay in the region for months or more than a year....
...The Mennonite Disaster Service joins several other faith-based groups in the recovery and rebuilding efforts throughout Phil Campbell, including the United Methodist Disaster Recovery Ministry, chapters of the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and Christian Aid Ministries and the Churches of Christ disaster relief effort.
The Mennonite Disaster Service is a volunteer network of Anabaptist churches that includes the Mennonites and the more conservative Amish....
...Phil Campbell joins Birmingham as the two locations in Alabama chosen by federal emergency management officials for the Mennonite Disaster Service, said Jerry Klassen, disaster response coordinator.

Volunteers said the effort could take up to two years, but Klassen said the group would stay as long as the "four pillars" of the program are available.

The first pillar consists of volunteers capable of helping to repair and rebuild. The second pillar is the support system for workers such as vehicles and equipment. The third pillar is making sure the work is meaningful, specifically targeted to vulnerable residents such as single parents, elderly, low-income or handicapped residents. ...

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