By Jenn Dorsch-Messler
Brethren Disaster Ministries received a $5,000 UPS Long Term Recovery Grant through a partnership with the UPS Foundation and National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.
These funds supported a portion of the volunteer project operational expenses for the Brethren Disaster Ministries rebuilding site based in Letcher County, Ky., contributing to the 2022 flood recovery. This included finances for meals, tools, fuel, and vehicle repairs to enable volunteers to complete the work.
During the term of the grant in September 2025, 55 volunteers provided more than 3,100 hours to support safe and secure housing for 10 households.
New construction was completed on nine new homes in a Higher Ground Neighborhood in bordering Knott County in partnership with local partner HOMES Inc. Work completed by volunteers ranged from building foundations to framing walls and roofs to painting and finishing work inside the houses. In addition, one home that was elevated to prevent future flooding received a front and back deck for entrance into the home.
This work ensures that the flood survivors who live in these mitigated homes will no longer need to worry about future flooding threats damaging their houses.
— Jenn Dorsch-Messler is director of Brethren Disaster Ministries. Find out more about Brethren Disaster Ministries at www.brethren.org/bdm
Before and after pictures of the home that was elevated to prevent future damage and had a deck installed by volunteers for access:
“Before” views of lots and foundations of homes that Brethren Disaster Ministries volunteers then built on:
Volunteers worked to build homes from the ground up on those sites:
#MissionAndMinistryBoard #StrategicPlan #RacialJustice #LoveOurNeighbors #Discipleship #NewTestamentGiving
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