Folks,

I wanted to give everyone an update on the coin drive…….We delivered eight buckets of change to Middlesex Bank, who will have totals for us next week. Between Starbucks, Whole Foods and the Landfill, we received over $1000 in bills and checks that we counted and deposited separately.……But, just as important as these monetary donations were the mood and spirit of the participants on Saturday. So, if you’ll indulge me some philosophical reflection, I’d like to share my day at the coin drive.

I was reminded once again of the number of things in my own life that I take for granted….as we positioned ourselves amongst our neighbors performing their “normal” routine……going to the dump; grocery shopping; getting coffee…..to raise money for a community 1500 miles away that yearns such normalcy.

These past weeks as we have debated the merits of various fundraisers…….will the totals raised be worth the effort; are we asking the same people too often; are people getting tired of hearing about us; what is the best use of our time????……my experience at the landfill this Saturday reminded me of one of the most rewarding aspects of working on this project - and that is providing others with the opportunity to do something to help.

There were a number of people that were so proud to participate and donate their coins. It was a privilege to share their experience as they dropped their donations into the buckets…… a young family that had their toddler drop in the coins a few at a time; the kids who jumped out of their cars with their box or baggie filled with change; and the mom who dumped the contents from the bottom of her purse….. When they thanked me for my efforts, I felt their pride when I expressed my thanks for their support.

We have always said that we are just the conduit, and it was exciting to watch people realize that their role as a “coin contributor” was important. It was more than just contributing “a handful of change.” Just as I experienced in Mississippi, when one of the workers “got it” and realized the significance of their contribution, I witnessed this same epiphany amongst my neighbors on Saturday reaffirming the power of what we have been about all along.

I also had the privilege to be a part of one young man’s opportunity to participate. This young man and his father pulled up at the landfill and the dad began his weekly chore of sorting his trash. He nodded to his son, who had a big smile on his face, as if to excuse him from the task. The son, disabled by cerebral palsey or some other degenerative muscular disease, slowly emerged from the car. He gathered several bags of change, a Tupperware container filled to the brim with quarters, and several rolls of coins and shuffled over to the orange buckets where he slowly untied the bags and carefully deposited the money. I reached over to help, but it was clear he wanted to do this himself.

With a hop in his shuffle, he returned to the car, and proudly showed his dad the two bracelets he had earned. It was clear from his excited utterances, that he was thrilled. While signing to his son, the father explained that they had been following our story in the paper and then thanked me for giving his son the chance to participate.

For me, standing out in the wind and cold for nine hours, right next to the compactor, was made worthwhile by this encounter. Even if this had been the only money we had raised, the day would have been worth it. And I thank Wayland to Waveland and Mission to Mississippi for the privilege of experiencing this encounter.

I was also struck by everyone’s enthusiasm and desire to talk with me about the project. I had the chance to share with my neighbors more details of the project; the response of the families we helped; the gratitude of the citizens of Waveland and even speculate on our “next” project. Many hoped to join us in the future, aware that they had missed a special opportunity this past fall.

Everyone seemed eager to express their excitement over what had been accomplished……Most everyone had read about our progress in the paper and the mood was celebratory as we congratulated each other on the building project (especially at Whole Foods where they were hosting a Super Bowl tailgate complete with steak tips, sausage, Cajun shrimp and CRAB LEGS…..we couldn’t have scripted it any better!). Some seemed embarrassed at their small contribution until I reminded them that it all adds up

A few cantankerous folks muttered that they had already given and hadn’t we asked enough, so I switched to a very soft sell and wished them good day.

It was also exciting to renew the bond with the special group of people who have traveled to Mississippi to participate in the project directly, both volunteers and workers. And, it was also nice to be able to thank families that had supported our Mission by taking care of everything at home while their loved ones traveled.

We have all had our experiences and “AH HA” moments during this project……I didn’t realize how powerful my day at the coin drive was going to be.

Thanks all! Kathie

Filed under: Fundraising, Mission to Mississippi - 2007/2008, Wayland, MA
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It’s a wonderful feeling I have after returning from Waveland, MS following the ceremonial handover of keys to seven new houses to the families we’ve selected there who very much need and deserve a break. They have survived a very real nightmare and have persevered through so much.

Each person’s story is more touching than the next…. Nevermind what the storm did and those awful days just after. The two years of monotonous waiting for nothing to happen is almost more terrifying. No answers, no programs, no help, no action, no word, no encouragement, no hope …

There’s been waiting and watching clean up. There’s waiting and holding fast to a FEMA number that you finally realize amounts to diddly. There’s waiting and working odd jobs to keep food on the table. There’s waiting, and waiting, and not much to do but hope.

There are signs that Waveland is coming back. The I-90 bridge across the bay to Pass Christian reopened in the fall of 07. Waveland started tearing up roads and replacing sewer pipe in October 07. While it’s been a mudbath, it’s a start.

A few stores are reopening along the road. But no grocery store. And there’s no movie theatre or roller rink …. the couple of little things for kids to do in town. Virtually everything for basic shopping and/or entertainment is 30 miles away either east or west.

There’s little that is normal about life. But it’s getting better. And the word from some of our family members is hopeful: ‘Waveland is coming back better than it was.’
It’s amazing how upbeat they are. I had trouble seeing it. Of course, being a skeptical Yankee and former journalist, I had trouble believing.

It’s coming up on three years… and it’s pretty clear, ‘someday’ is way, way down that road. The long and popular city pier that people enjoyed for fishing 24-hours-a-day is still broken sticks untouched since the storm. Of course the coastal waters are heavily polluted by runoff from broken and leaking sewer pipes so there’s no fish to fish for. There are no docks, no boating.
It doesn’t take long to notice there are very, very few trees coming back along the coast. The few that are there are scrawny and not growing despite more than two years of warm and wet weather. Without trees there’s little wildlife… few birds, fewer rabbits and other animals. The natural food chain supporting wildlife is seriously broke. These were the riches of a seaside village. The colorful shops and restaurants, the stately trees lining the small streets leading to the beach.

And there’s no hustle or bustle. Not even a lonely soul walking the 16 miles long walkway from one end of Waveland to the other end of Bay St. Louis that was once a beautiful haven and simple pleasure of vacationing in Waveland, MS.

What I did see was real bravery in the eyes of those of our seven families whose desire is to be right where they are in Waveland, who are determined to make it there, who are now so excited to have a chance to leapfrog into a new life with the huge weight of finding shelter off their shoulders. The four single parents among the seven have clearly had a special challenge to do it all.
But now, more than even before, we cannot rest on accomplishing this “Mission to Mississippi” to build eight houses. It’s really just one brick at the bottom of a wall.

Sure, there are plenty of newer crises and disasters and issues in the world for people to care about and support. We simply cannot forget those in the Gulf Coast, who continue to be victims of Katrina. They’re out of the news, out of sight… we need to keep them in mind.

Americans — we all need to continue helping these Americans! It really works. Spread the word that you can make a difference.

Filed under: Fundraising, Mission to Mississippi - 2007/2008, Wayland, MA
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Presented by Sam Kolovson
Wayland to Waveland
During the holiday season, we had been busy hoping for what we wanted. None of us were thinking about what we already have. We didn’t stop to think how privileged we are to have a house, food to eat, and the other many things we take for granted.
In our sister city of Waveland, Mississippi they were all busy hoping for what they need. Their own house, money, a job, and those countless other things that we forget to be thankful for.
It’s been more than two years since Hurricane Katrina hit that area. To us it feels like this whole “hurricane thing” is over, but it’s not. Two years and 150 people are still living in FEMA trailers. Two years and the town is still not back together. Two years and people still don’t have their lives back together.
Try to imagine it. Everything around this whole area of the country is destroyed, your house, everything you own, your life. And now two years later you are still living in a FEMA trailer. It’s like a metal box maybe about the size of your old bedroom.
The people living in Waveland still have hope though. A hope sparked from right here in our town of Wayland, from a group called Wayland to Waveland Hurricane Katrina Relief. This small committee of 7 people, including some of our parents, is doing their small part to help Waveland rebuild their devastated town and give them hope.
Two years ago right around this time now I was part of the first effort to help the citizens of Waveland. My dad and I went to the Public Safety Building, and looked through dozens of papers to pick out a family from Waveland that we wanted to “adopt.” Each paper had, their personal story of what happened to them during the storm, and what they needed for the holidays. We eventually picked one with a girl about my age so I could write to her. A few weeks later we sent the family toys, books, things they had asked for, and even my old computer.
Since then Wayland to Waveland has done many more project to help Waveland. A few members of the committee rebuilt their city’s ballpark and made a little memorial garden. In 2006 the group completed a project where they rebuilt homes for three families. The group is just now completing the most recent project- Mission to Mississippi- to build eight brand new houses. Eight houses might not seem much but it’s going to make a big difference to those families. In fact it is already helping everyone in Waveland have hope that their town is going to be repaired.
Hope.
Wayland to Waveland is giving these people hope. A hope, that will go on for many years. These projects are just the start. It won’t end until their needs are fulfilled, and they will no longer need to wish for and cherish the life that the storm destroyed. We hope that maybe one day Waveland will be rebuilt. We hope that maybe one day the lives of the people will be repaired. We hope that maybe one day they can, like us, think about the things they want and not only the things they need. But for now it is hard to see the city of Waveland that was once a beautiful and charming seaside community.

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Today was a major step in the M2M project for me… for 16 weeks I’ve been managing the security cameras at the three sites in Waveland, tying them into the Web site. Today, as part of the wrap up, two of the cameras came down. I’ve yet to visit in Waveland this year and the cams have been my eyes connecting me in a unique way to the day-to-day hubbub of the project. I watched from the day the underbrush got cleared, and then for weeks as there was bare ground, then stubby little piers on which the houses would be built. Suddenly, in only days, sticks flew and there were outlines of houses. Two major holidays, then suddenly we’re talking wrap-up…. punch list…. final trim and painting. I’ll be going down in a week or so to set up the computers we collected, wiped, reinstalled and shipped for our families…. then, in a flurry of activity, it’ll be over. Well, it never really will be over. These people will be indelibly be etched in our minds and hearts. We are making a difference… for them and for us.

I can’t wait for what the next days and months and years will bring.

It’s been wonderful… Meanwhile… one cam is still live… watch the finish.

Filed under: Mission to Mississippi - 2007/2008
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Hi Webmaster Cliff here…. New Year’s Day… while we haven’t been very active on the BLOG, we’ve been busy. The steering committee has been focused on plans for the final push to finish in January. Fundraising has been a big focus…. we need to hit our mark (we’re close) to be sure we can complete everything including the landscaping. We’ve had tremendous luck with the weather until recently… rain washed out some days during the holiday week when a few people were there to work on landscaping.

As the year begins, our team is moving into place (Cindy Lombardo is arriving in Gulfport as we write this), and crews will arrive tomorrow to begin painting insides. Later this week a large group from BC is arriving at Langiappe to do a variety of projects including helping us with landscaping. Other volunteers are coming during the next two weeks.

Keep watching the Web site for news updates and here for comments. It’s about to get very emotional as the families learn which house will be theirs!

Filed under: Mission to Mississippi - 2007/2008
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The following was part of a message from one of the electricians participating in Mission to Mississippi who was on-site the week before Thanksgiving.

"I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving. Spending the week prior to
Thanksgiving in Mississippi truly added meaning to mine. I can honestly
tell you that with the exception of the birth of my children, it was the most
moving experience I have ever had. Given the opportunity I would
volunteer again without hesitation.

For those of you who have already been, I'm sure you'd agree and for
those of you who haven't yet had the privilege I hope you experience nothing
less that I did. It was truly a privilege to work alongside not only some of
my own employees but a tremendous group of people including carpenters,
laborers, plumbers and other electricians. Truly amazing to watch
plumbers,electricians and carpenters actually helping each other."

Brendan Driscoll
Driscoll Electric Co., Inc.
83 Newbern Ave.
Medford, MA 02155
781-393-9299 (Tel)

Filed under: Mission to Mississippi - 2007/2008, Volunteers
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If you didn’t see it, The Boston Globe (Fri., Nov. 16, 2007) carried a Washington Post story providing additional perspective on the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This particular outcome affects the whole world. Meanwhile the people down in Mississippi that we’ve come to love still can only focus on simple and urgent matters such as putting food on the table and making sure their shelter doesn’t leak. Please stay tuned and help where you can!

Here’s the lead of the story:

Katrina, Rita a catastrophe for trees

Hurricanes caused record forest disaster

By Marc Kaufman The Washington Post / November 16, 2007

WASHINGTON - New satellite imaging has revealed that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita produced the largest single forestry disaster on record in America - an essentially unreported ecological catastrophe that killed or severely damaged some 320 million trees in Mississippi and Louisiana.

The die-off, caused initially by wind and later by the weeks-long pooling of stagnant water, was so massive that researchers say it will add significantly to the greenhouse gas buildup - ultimately putting as much carbon from dying vegetation into the air as the rest of the American forest takes out in a year of photosynthesis.

In addition, the downing of so many trees has opened vast and sometimes fragile tracts of land to several aggressive and fast-growing exotic species that are already squeezing out far more environmentally productive native species.

“This is the worst environmental disaster in the United States since the Exxon Valdez accident . . . and the greatest forest destruction in modern times,” said James Cummins, executive director of the nonprofit environmental group Wildlife Mississippi and a board member of the Mississippi Forestry Commission. “It needs a really broad and aggressive response, and so far that just hasn’t happened.”

Filed under: Mission to Mississippi - 2007/2008, Waveland, MS
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Mission to Mississippi wear is available at The Wayland Depot in Wayland, MA near the center of town and the library at the junction of Rtes. 27 and 126. Stretch microfiber Pullover jackets in red or blue are $45, T-shirts are $15 and wristbands are $2 (buy them in batches and share with friends)! The pullovers are hugely comfortable and look quite nice.

These items also are available to order online through out Web site — click on the “Click & Pledge” icon at left near the top of the main page.

Also… The Depot also has a few copies of the book “The Storm” that dramatically presents views on the hurricane by children of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It will move you to tears, and hopefully open your pocketbook. Seriously… the need is still great after two years… the coast is still quite a barren strip.

Please support Waveland!

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As we kick off this blog, we’re entering week 5 of Mission to Mississippi in Waveland, MS. And Kathy Pinn of Waveland is visiting here in Wayland! How’s that for timely!

Filed under: Cities/Towns, Waveland, MS
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This section is for information relating to the Wayland, MA people, news and activities in support of Wayland to Waveland.

For example, fundraising continues here with sales of Mission to Mississippi wear at the Wayland Depot!

And thanks to Village Bank and Middlesex Savings Bank for contributing to the M2M efforts … see their signs on the houses going up in Waveland.

And thanks to Town Meeting for endorsing the efforts of Wayland to Waveland!!!

Filed under: Cities/Towns, Wayland, MA
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This is your Blog/Webmaster… Cliff Kolovson welcoming volunteers to post their comments and reactions in this section of our blog. The current project is “Mission to Mississippi” — but all volunteers who’ve worked in Waveland, MS are welcome to write! That includes those from JP in Boston and those from Illinois and others from California… let us hear from you!

We’re still learning how blogging works, so be patient if your posts don’t appear right away…. you can contact us through out regular Web site also at www.waylandtowaveland.org

Filed under: Volunteers
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This is your Blog/Webmaster… Cliff Kolovson welcoming you to this blog. This category is for information relating to the 2006-2007 projects produced by Wayland to Waveland called the “October Waves of Relief.”

This was our first big building effort in support of people in Waveland, MS. Our modest little group met two neighbors in a heavily damaged area of Waveland and decided to help them out. One — Ms. Hazel Tracey — was 80+ years young and living in a tiny camper/trailer next to her flooded out shell of a house. With no insurance and no family financial support, she was unlikely to be rebuilding anytime soon. Across the street was Ms. Melanie Keretas, significantly younger and with some insurance money at her disposal. Her house, however, was completely gone — crushed and washed away. Lead by Wayland Builder Peter Bachman of Custom Designs, Inc. W2W repaired and rebuilt Ms. Hazel’s house and worked with Ms. Melanie to design and build a new home. It started as a two-week effort in October of 2006 and grew and grew. Just recently, Ms. Melanie has finally moved in to her new home just recently. Ms. Hazel moved in during the early summer but just recently had new flooring installed.

These projects, and these people are quite dear to our heart and will continue to get our ongoing support to rebuild their lives in the footprint of Katrina.

Filed under: October Waves - 2006/2007
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