Commitment Setting In
for Wayland to Waveland

July 16 – OK Wayland, the professionals have stepped up – signed up literally– for most of the 408 skilled worker slots during the 14-week project to build eight homes in Waveland Mississippi. Now it’s time for volunteers to register to be on site during the October to February project.

On-site volunteers will be needed continuously from October into February to ensure we get all the tasks done. During a similar effort last fall, approximately 60 volunteers, including high school students, experienced the satisfaction of going to Waveland and building much-needed homes for three very grateful families!

W2W has set up an online system for volunteers to sign up simply by filling out a survey at the Web site www.waylandtowaveland.org. Just click on the link “Click Here to Volunteer” to start the process. You also can call any of the Steering Committee members listed on the web site.

The team of eight premier home builders from around the area, headed by Kenneth Vona Construction of Waltham, has confirmed nearly all of the more than 400 skilled workers from more than 40 area subcontractor specialists including carpenters, framers, electricians, plumbers, painters, etc. The group also is arranging for significant donations of materials and supplies… all of which will be shipped to Waveland for the project.

The planning for this huge project organized by Wayland to Waveland has been exquisite. While the area builders and their many contractors have worked on the technical aspects and lined up labor and materials, the Wayland to Waveland group has been working with Lagniappe, a Presbyterian church group, based in Bay Saint Louis, MS (the city adjacent to Waveland that shares a school district) to secure the eight properties on which they will build homes for eight needy and qualified families. Five of these families have been selected and are presented on the group’s Web site www.waylandtowaveland.org.

The support for the Wayland to Waveland project has grown throughout the eastern Massachusetts area, now including eight premier home building companies. The W2W Steering Committee will be working with the group of home builders headed by Ken Vona of Kenneth Vona Construction of Waltham. Others participating include the Mitchell Construction Group, Inc.; Twin Peaks Construction, LLC; Thoughtforms Corporation Builders; Gallagher Home Builders, Inc.; Whitla Brothers Builders; CMG Builders; and Custom Designs, Inc. Custom Designs owner Peter Bachman of Wayland lead the efforts that started last October to rebuild three homes in Waveland with W2W.

The W2W group hopes many Waylanders will “Catch the Next Wave” of help by volunteering to work locally and/or travel to Wayland’s sister city Waveland, Mississippi to work on the new homes. Waveland was “Ground Zero” during Hurricane Katrina nearly two years ago. While some homes are being re-built, many families who lost everything do not have the means to rebuild. The city is very, very slowly recovering and showing some signs of rebuilding.

As always, the Wayland to Waveland fundraising efforts are continuing. Contributions will be used to directly support our rebuilding efforts for those most in need in Waveland. All contributions are completely tax deductible and can be mailed to the Wayland to Waveland Hurricane Relief Fund, c/o Town of Wayland, Town Building, 41 Cochituate Road, Wayland, MA  01778