When a disaster strikes around the world Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) will jump into action to assist.

Many people may not realize that the Town of Plum Coulee houses the central warehouse for Canada, which enables MCC to mobilize quickly when needed.

Any material resources coming from the provinces of Ontario, B.C., Saskatchewan, Alberta, and the City of Winnipeg get sent to the Plum Coulee warehouse as a collection point.  Items kept at the warehouse include things like school kits, hygiene kits, and blankets.  "That way if there is a disaster, like the earthquake in Haiti a few years back, I can get the resources out there faster because I have it all here at the warehouse," said Gord Letkeman, manager of the Plum Coulee warehouse.

Letkeman said about 95 percent of the resources sent out are dispatched oversees.

In the seven years Letkeman has been at the warehouse, he said the call for help and the need for more relief kits has increased every year.  He said the many thousands of refugees fleeing war torn Syria is just one of the reasons for the increased need.

Link to "Relief Kits"

Letkeman said MCC has many projects and initiatives on the go, and what he does at the warehouse is just a very small part of a very big picture.

Meanwhile, Letkeman said he is very thankful for the strong volunteer base at the warehouse.  "I have a group that come in every Tuesday morning, and they are the most dedicated volunteers that I know of."

 

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