Students Displaced After Multiple Hutterite Colonies Hit by Flooding

More than two dozen Hutterite families have been displaced due to recent flooding, forcing several colonies to seek temporary shelter and educational support. The Wolf Creek Hutterite Colony has turned its school into a shelter for those who lost their homes, while the Tschetter Hutterite Colony’s school remains severely damaged and unusable.

The Freeman School District has stepped in to host displaced students, providing a structured environment during this challenging time. Each morning, a bus transports the students from their colonies to Bethany Mennonite Church in Freeman for classes. They also spend time at Freeman Public School for lunch, recess, and computer science classes.

Freeman Public School Superintendent Kevin Kunz described the situation as a significant life change for the students. “To have to flip everything and turn everything inside out, to have to venture into something that they’re not used to, that can be quite a shock for them,” he said.

Despite the disruption, the students continue to attend classes with the same teachers, a consistency that Kunz believes is crucial. “Having that consistency with having the same teachers goes a long way in helping make this process work,” he added.

Freeman School District has committed to supporting these students until their colonies are fully recovered. The community’s response reflects a commitment to care for the vulnerable, echoing the biblical call to protect the weak and provide for those in need.

Source: Read the original report