It's an opportunity for volunteers with MDS Manitoba to share with the public their experiences of the past year. The provincial branch of the disaster service organization is hosting it's annual information night and awareness banquet this evening.

"It brings out the volunteers," explains Manitoba Chair Dan Klassen and adds "It gives all the new volunteers to see what MDS is about."

One of the experiences being shared tonight include a project last summer and fall in the Selkirk/Breezy Point area where repairs to a home that flooded in 2011 had fallen through the cracks.

"So MDS was asked by the Red Cross to come and join forces with them, so it became a hundred and thirty-some thousand dollar project which involved lifting the house, putting in new retaining walls, a new basement floor, hauling in all the new materials and flood-proofing it to the new levels that are required."

Klassen says everyone pushed really hard and got the homeowners ready to move back in by Christmas-time. In fact, those homeowners will share their story this evening.

Volunteers will also offer details on a Family Project that took place in Saskatchewan last year and looks to happen this year in Manitoba. Klassen explains it would involve building four cabins at Camp Assiniboia.

Plans for MDS Manitoba volunteers in 2015 could also include rebuilding an Indigenous church in Winnipeg. Klassen says they could use a fair number of volunteers for this effort.

Meantime, newly appointed Regional Director for MDS Canada, Ross Penner, will also be speaking this evening about his new job and additional future plans for MDS.