March 12, 2007
Dear Friends,
Stacey, T.J., Sierra, and Chase Cato are about to have a brand new home. After living in the sardine can of a FEMA "Mansion" for over a year and a half, they will have their new home completed by Friday of this week after two weeks of construction. The Giving Circle assembled a group of seven people who went to Waveland and worked for the first week. Our group had five highly skilled home builders. Combining with the twenty or so workers from the congregation of Union Presbyterian Church in McKees Rocks, PA (who funded the project), an amazing amount was accomplished in the first week (see link below). One needs no rewards for seeing a need and trying to help, but the gleam in Stacey's eyes and the smile on T.J.'s face as they toured their soon to be completed home has warmed us all.
While in Waveland, we went "down the street" to visit Barbara and Richard's nearly completed new home, which The Giving Circle partially funded. Richard, who is about to turn eighty, said to me that he "...felt like Job. All that was taken away from me has been restored".
Thanks to all who have supported our efforts to bring some semblance of normalcy to this utterly devastated community and bring some joy into at least a few lives.
Please follow the links below to see the progress of these projects.
Stacey and T.J.'s house (http://www.thegivingcircle.org/cato.html)
Richard and Barbara's House (http://www.thegivingcircle.org/wav_story_RB.htm)
RonRonald M. Maenza, M.D., PresidentThe Giving Circle, Inc.P.O. Box 3162Saratoga Springs, NY 12866(518) 226-0104ron@thegivingcircle.org