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As homeowner Wilford Miller watched a tree-planting ceremony in the yard of his home built by Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) volunteers, his smile said it all.

Miller, a resident of the town of Iowa, Louisiana, had spent month after month recovering from flooding that struck his home and ruined his property. In February, along with his new home, Miller received a young orange tree, planted by volunteers in his yard.

The tree is the fruit of a partnership between MDS and Mennonite Men, who have agreed to purchase trees for homes newly built or repaired by MDS volunteers. This is one of eleven tree plantings Mennonite Men assisted with in the last year.

"It's delightful to see the joy this tree brings to the homeowner," said Steve Thomas, who coordinates the JoinTrees tree planting program for Mennonite Men.

Karla Friesen, who coordinates the tree planting program for MDS, said she hopes to grow the effort even more. "We think this is a great way to help the communities replace damaged trees, enhance the home, and support the ecosystem after a disaster," she said.