Mennonite Disaster service is continuing to work on a plan to help the residents of Fort McMurray, Alberta to recover from a devastating forest fire. Ross Penner, director of operations for MDS in Canada, says, now that many residents have been allowed to return, they will be able to assess the needs.

"We have planned to do an assessment visit. We will be leaving on June 19th and will spend a couple of days in Fort McMurray and in the surrounding area looking for the specifics of how MDS can respond to this tragedy."

Penner says they have had a tremendous response from people who say they are ready to go to and help when the time comes.

"The response has been really wonderful to MDS. Donations have been coming in at a very amazing rate and we're just really grateful for our constituency. And, many people who know about MDS, are regularly saying; When the time comes, please get the word out to us and we are eager to be part of the help."

MDS has also received over $200,000 thousand dollars in donations to support volunteers who will be involved in the relief effort. Penner says he will know much more after their visit to Fort McMurray and will then put out a more specific call for donations and volunteer support.