Community Fund Has Given More Than $500,000 to Wayland Residents

Staffed by volunteers, all donations given to the Wayland Community Fund are given directly to help Wayland residents.

For 18 years, the fund has served as a “viral safety net,” and has mown provided $500,000 in short-term financial aid to cover the costs of necessities such as rent, oil, medical bills, children’s clothes and much more, wrote Michael Patterson, chairman, WCF, in a letter submitted to Waylandenews.

“Many recipients have serious, sometimes terminal, medical conditions,” he wrote. “They are unable to even handle co-payments. Grandparents living on social security are raising young children. There have been teenagers left on their own with no family or other support. There are homeless in Wayland. You just don’t see them. Two women were living in their cars. One had a child. Some people, who were out of work, only needed a small boost to help them get on their feet. Others have more complex problems that take a longer time to resolve.”

Most of the people helped by this fund have multiple problems, including unemployment, health problems, and a shortage of food, is says on WCF’s site.

“Additionally, people who reside in Wayland and other suburban communities may not have access to many of the services available to inner city residents.:

Many of the residents we help are:

• Individuals and Families faced with chronic or terminal illness;
• Individuals and Families faced wtih utility shutoff and/or eviction;
• Parents and elderly residents who have run out of food;
• Homeless adults, inlcuding single parents with children;
• Grandparents living on social security and raising toddlers.

“Often, these residents do not appear to be in financial difficulty as they do their best to keep up appearances. They are, however, in serious need, and that is where the WCF tries to step in with financial assistance that preserves the privacy and dignity of the resident.”

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