Women of Wayland

Pam Washek lived in Wayland for all but the first 10 years of her life. She graduated from Wayland High School (Class of 1983) and went on to receive a B.S. in Leadership and a Graduate Certificate in Non-Profit Management from Northeastern University. In 2003, a year after her cancer diagnosis, she and close friend, Jean Seiden, co-founded Wayland Angel Food Network to help families in times of need by preparing meals. They both had been recipients of caring family and friends in their times of need while going through treatment and decided that the opportunity should be available to others through a formalized program; hence Wayland Angels – the term that so many recipients used when assisted by others. Using Pam’s expertise in technology, they were able to set up a program to manage Wayland Angels, pairing volunteers and recipients. Pam lost her friend and colleague in 2006. This gave her even more impetus to spread the concept. Other nearby communities set up similar programs with Pam’s help and model template. 

Then in 2010 Wayland Angels was converted into Neighborhood Brigade with Pam at the helm as Founder and Executive Director until her passing. The mission was and is to assist families in their day-to-day needs in times of crisis, by providing meals, rides, dog walking and other household chores. Pam’s vision was to establish Neighborhood Brigade chapters in each community of Massachusetts, followed by New England and then the nation. Within a short time, there were over 30 chapters in Massachusetts and several in other New England states and beyond, with more chapters added each year. Although volunteer-based, funds were necessary for incorporation, insurance, and daily management of the program. Pam established fundraising efforts in community-wide events bringing notice to Neighborhood Brigade. One of the fundraising efforts, a running race, took hold and today is known as Pam’s Run, held in the Fall each year. It is in memory and honor of Pam and raises 37 percent of the funds needed to operate the Wayland chapter of Neighborhood Brigade. The character of the organization is said to emulate Pam’s kind, gentle, caring and efficient way of living her life.