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

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.

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.

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!

"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)

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.”

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!

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!!!