Wayland Town Crier 7/3/11: Explosive growth for Wayland-based Neighbor Brigade. Growing almost exclusively through word-of-mouth, the Neighbor Brigade, a year-old nonprofit, is successfully spreading its mission of neighbors helping neighbors into towns throughout the MetroWest and beyond. When the organization officially launched in May 2010, it had nine founding chapters. That number has nearly tripled to a total of 24 chapters serving 26 Massachusetts communities. Neighbor Brigade provides a proven method for local communities to create and maintain volunteer networks that support neighbors in crisis due to an acute illness, sudden tragedy, debilitating-late stage chronic disease or terminal illness. To date, the organization has signed up more than 2,400 volunteers who have delivered more than 2,500 meals and given more than 200 rides to families in crisis.