It All Adds Up

On January 23, 2008, eight homes were dedicated and ribbons were cut in Waveland, MS. Mission to Mississippi, a community effort from Wayland, MA partnered with Lagniappe Church in this project. The following was written and read by Kathie Steinberg at the ceremony. It really does all add up when communities and folks work together. Thanks Mission to Mississippi!

It All Adds Up

As we look at the four houses behind us on Combel St

803; 805; 807; and 809

And the two on Maple:

1015; 1017

And the two on Taranta

1204; 1206………

We ask “How did we get to these numbers?”

8/29/05 8:01 AM Category 3 172 mph winds

A 30 foot storm surge And 8 hours later……..

90,000 square miles of Mississippi damaged and destroyed;

46 million cubic yards of debris;

235,000 homes damaged and destroyed;

128,000 jobs lost.

50,000 volunteers responded including a small group from 01778.

They reached out to 39576, a small 6.8 square mile beach front community located 30 degrees North and 39 degrees West; 17 feet above sea level with 2730 households and just over 7100 residents,

And filled a 53 foot trailer with household items;

Fulfilled 208 Christmas wishes;

Planted 15 trees, 24 bushes and one memorial garden;

And brought 87 people to help rebuild 3 houses.

Yet, two years after the storm, over 16,000 people were still living in trailers. So, eight builders responded…..and thus began Mission to Mississippi.

8 builders;

404 skilled workers and subcontractors;

125 volunteers;

1252 contributors and 68 vendors donating

$1.6 million.

14 weeks starting at 6:15 AM, 10 hrs/day, 7 days/wk, 28,000 man hours;

3600 sandwiches 265 dozen donuts 1425 tootsie pops

5400 cups of coffee 365 trips to Walmart

785 cases of water, soda and Gatorade.

1653 Hotel nites 1800 trips to the Epic Buffet

4 boxes of bandaids 3 cans of bug spray 6 bottles of Rolaids

Only 2 trips to the ER and NO serious accidents.

3 sites, 8 green containers, 3 yellow trailers and 4 Handy Houses;

11 coolers, 3 tents, 7 tables;

2 lulls, 2 skidsters, 1 excavator, 1 flat bed, 1 pick up and 3 white vans……

And they only got stuck in a ditch 5 times.

86 windows 24 doors 16 toilets

8 thermostats 24 sinks 72 kitchen cabinets

16 tubs 136 pilings 96 light fixtures

174 drawer pulls 296 light switches

The families contributed 700 hours of sweat equity and provided encouragement and daily “thank yous.” They have waited 512 days…..

And so, when we add this all together ---- the builders, the workers, the volunteers, the donors and the contributors ---- eight families will enjoy

803; 805; 807; 809; 1015; 1017; 1204 and 1206.

WELCOME HOME!