You may have heard how Amish often participate in cleanup projects following natural disasters. In the video below (removed), group leader Earl Bouder explains how Amish workers from Pennsylvania found themselves on Staten Island last week rebuilding a home which suffered damage from Hurricane Sandy.
“Storm Aid” is the name of the Amish division of Mennonite Disaster Service which assists in storm cleanup and rebuilding.
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17 Comments
This is true!
We always stop at a bulk food store in Berlin, OH. The proprietor happened to mention that her son and others from his church group helped clean out the house of two elderly women after the hurricane. Everything had been ruined, including the mattresses on their beds. The group was raising money to replace the ruined furnishings, including a washer and dryer.
Amish Pen Pal
I would love to visit Berlin, OH. I have an Amish Pen Pal who’s husband is the Bishop in the Berlin area.
Poor reporting
What a poor report on what the Amish are doing to help others.
The photos showed the large mug shot of the leader gobbing off on what the Amish are doing but showed little of their accomplishments.
Next time please show the work being accomplished and the leaders voice narrating what is shown.
It is wonderful that others come to the aid of those in need. My sons girlfriend is in Staten Island this week helping with whatever needs there are. She went with a group from her Christian High School. They are all from St.Catharines Ontario. She graduated Thursday and they all left Saturday. We have been praying for all those involved in helping throughout the community. Thanks for sharing!!
Comment on Amish Storm Aid on Staten Island
Bless the Amish!
Teamwork
The women (in their usual Amish dress) working along with the men on this clean up project might seem odd (division of labor), though my guess is that many (most?) of the Amish shown here may not yet be full-fledged “members.” Is that a fair assumption, Erik, or does it depend on the district & the task at hand (relief work)?
I don’t know who took the video or their “editing” skills, but I got the gist of what was happening. Also, I know most Amish don’t like their photos (videos) to be up close, so that might have played a big roll in how much could be shown here. I certainly admire the work of everyone involved, and I’m sure the “Englishers,” whose home this is, are grateful.
My family and I have been involved in many a “repair/renew” project (including roofing, framing, etc.), so I know how much hard work is involved. I can’t do much of it anymore, but that’s why I appreciate seeing these folks going at it with gusto…and for the good of their fellow man, whatever their background. God bless them all!
What makes you think that Amish men and women would not usually work together? This seems to be a bizarre assumption.
Why bizarre?
I’m merely commenting on men and women working on the same job(in this case, roofing repair, both sexes up on the roof, working together—women in their dresses & kapps, men in trousers & shirts & hats, etc.). In Amish communities I’ve learned of, read of (reputable NON-fiction, and on this blog), there seems to be a “traditional” (“old-fashioned, if you prefer) division of male and female labor. Traditionally, if there’s a barn raising, for example, it’s the men “raising” the barn (climbing up on the roof, raising the walls, hammering framework, hauling lumber, etc.), and women “on the ground” for the most part, providing food & drink & watching the kids(“traditional” male and female roles, even in the “English” world). I’m certainly not saying women can’t or don’t do those things, but it sure seems “different” to see Amish women up on the roof (as it would be to see Amish men canning preserves in the kitchen or going to a quilting frolic).
That’s all. : )
At least, once the Amish marry, that seems to be the case (traditional male/female roles). I know in Rumspringa, and before joining the church, things are often quite different.
Alice Mary
It didn’t look to me like the women were on the roof but rather on the ground but then I didn’t watch the entire video. This is totally the norm on relief projects, women will do things like painting while the men do the heavier carpentry work. I would consider this to be working together.
There are many things where both sexes work closely together. On the farm the women often will help with milking cows and doing other chores. It is not uncommon for women to help in the field, especially when it is planting or harvesting season.
Yes there are some jobs that aren’t very co-ed. Women won’t work on (paid) carpentry crews, while men don’t frequently work in the kitchen.
Amish vs Mennonte
Remember Amish has differ ways than the Mennonite, so it can be that the Mennonite woman were working right along side the men
Mennonite Disaster
I have seen what Mennonite Disaster Service does to help those in need in our country and recommend that when there is a disaster, funds should be sent to them. Only 27 per cent of the funds goes to administration…far far less than American Red Cross. Donations can be made to MDS, 583 Airport Road, Lititz PA 17543. They periodically send a newsletter telling about their many projects. The Amish work along with the Mennonites. The Mennonite Central Committee works in Haiti and other foreign lands, but the Mennonite Disaster works only in the USA and Canada.
Wow…so amazed and happy to read that the Amish did work in my neck of the woods
Wow…so amazed and happy to read that the Amish did work in my neck of the woods
Wow…so amazed and happy to read that the Amish did work in my neck of the woods
Praise The Lord!
I live in Oklahoma City, just a about 5 miles from where the tornadoes ripped through the state a month ago. Our church (The Wesleyan Denomination) is hosting long and short term relief workers, and a team from Tipton, IN just left this morning…on that team, they had a young Amish man with them. I was kind of shocked to see the young Amish fellow, until I heard his story. (I’ll leave that for another time!) He not only worked hard out “in the field” (on a work site), but also stayed “on-site” to repair one of the work trucks that had broken down. In fact, that’s when I met him, after he crawled out from under the truck!
I’m glad a story is coming out of the Amish helping with the relief work!
Sorry my comment was published three times…I think there is a glitch. I can not see the video. Also, in my previous comment I was saying that at my hospital where I work, there is this Amish man who comes to sell his goods. I have missed his great products but hope to be there upon his return visit.:-)