Wayland to Waveland’s
‘Mission to Mississippi’
Letters from Kathy Pinn
Wayland to Waveland…the Giving Continues
NOVEMBER 4, 2007 – WAVELAND, MS – There are some who came and gave…and gave generously, and then there are others who continue to come and continue to give. Among those is a group from Wayland, Massachusetts who adopted Waveland right after Hurricane Katrina.
They have a heart for understanding the needs of people and a passion for helping. The first project they participated in was Waveland’s “Project Santa.” The original members traveled here from Massachusetts, assisted in reading and sorting letters of families who had evacuated and some who stayed during the storm. And then they personally adopted nearly 200 families. Throughout the project nearly 900 families received help in those difficult days after the storm and the first holiday season. Now as we approach the next holiday season, there is still so much to be done.
Cindy Lombardo, one of the founding members of “Wayland to Waveland” has been here this week organizing crews with the help of Ken Vona, a Boston builder. They continue their tremendous giving to Waveland by building eight homes for Waveland residents who find themselves without homes since Katrina. These eight houses will be completed in fourteen weeks. Each week a new team comes in to build using their area of expertise…framers, roofers, electricians, plumbers, etc. All giving of their time and talent.
One of the things that concern them is that they believe people in the rest of the country think Waveland is fine. They are surprised that two years after the storm, even though a lot of work has been done, Waveland still has no public buildings, that there are still people in trailers moving into Katrina cottages, that there still is such a need and that the nation doesn’t realize the scope of the devastation along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. They wonder why more help isn’t coming and that it didn’t occur faster.
Another interesting thing that Mr. Vona said is, “Don’t feel guilty for wanting to live along the coast. Sixty-five percent of the population of the United States lives along a coastline. People are drawn to live near the water.”
Framing crew from Boston on top of one of the eight new homes being constructed in Waveland.
Ken Vona of Kenneth Vona Construction of Waltham, MA visits Kathy Pinn's store "That Cute Little Shoppe" now reopened in Waveland. Vona is leading the effort with seven other builders from the Boston area to build 8 homes in Waveland.
David and Cindy Lombardo from Wayland, Masschusetts. Cindy is a founder of the Wayland to Waveland Hurricane Katrina Relief Steering Committee.
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Kathy Pinn has reopened her shop in Waveland. Alas, it's not down near the beach in the former town center, it's along the main business road about six miles inland. She can be reached at:
That Cute Little Shoppe
634 Hwy. 90
Waveland, MS 39576
228-467-3922 fax 228-467-3975
www.thatcutelittleshoppe.com
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