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Wayland to Waveland Update
Posted 10/16/06
Wayland to Waveland October
Waves of Relief
High School Trip Successful; 2nd Wave At Work; Fundraising
Kicks Off
Oct. 16 – Eighteen Wayland high school students visited Waveland, Mississippi over the Columbus Day weekend to help repair and rebuild the small city that was ‘ground zero’ for Hurricane Katrina. The weekend included painting, tree cutting, as well as gutting homes affected by the 24-foot storm surge created by Katrina. Waveland’s residents were overwhelmed with the energy and enthusiasm of the high school students, and very much appreciated their hard work.
The students, accompanied by
nine adults including two Wayland selectmen and two Wayland
police officers, were in Wayland’s sister city for four days
during the long weekend. The trip was organizaed by the
Wayland to Waveland Hurricane Relief Steering Committee
which was formed in the fall of 2005 to assist those
affected by Katrina. The committee has dedicated itself to a
long-term effort to assist Waveland, Mississippi.
On Sunday October 8th, Waveland Mayor Tommy Longo greeted
the group and expressed appreciation for their weekend work,
as well as the Town of Wayland’s continued support both
financially and materially.
The Mayor also expressed enthusiasm for the second wave of
Wayland’s citizens who arrived days after the students
returned home. This group is led by Wayland builder Peter
Bachman, who with 29 other adults, will be building one home
in Waveland and re-building two others from October 13 to
October 23. Much of Waveland has been “cleaned up” in the
past 12 months. Their greatest need at this time appears to
be carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and other skilled
labor to rebuild homes and repair homes.
Also around the Columbus Day weekend, the Wayland to Waveland Committees sent a letter to Wayland residents inviting them to contribute financially to this effort. Already more than $10,000 has been contributed toward the initial goal of $120,000.
Monies raised will be used to
buy materials for those most in need in Waveland. Since so
many in Waveland did not have flood insurance at the time of
the storm, they do not have the means to complete repairs.
All contributions are completely tax deductible and can be
mailed to the Wayland to Waveland Hurricane Relief Fund c/o
the Treasurer’s office at the Wayland Town Building, 41
Cochituate Road.
For more information on the group’s efforts – including more
photos and progress reports – see the Web site (http://www.waylandtowaveland.org).
Wayland high schools students don masks while cleaning out a
Waveland, MS home of debris… more than 12 months after
Hurricane Katrina forced a 24-ft. high surge of water
through the small coastal city.
Wayland students pose with
Waveland, MS Mayor Tom Longo outside the city’s Civic Center
that was left in shambles by Hurricane Katrina. The 18
Wayland High School students traveled with 9 adults in the
first “Wave” of October Relief from Wayland, MA to sister
city Waveland.
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