BonaResponds-October 2009 video

A video of SOME of the work we did in October 2009.



Yes I cut the length of this. One section of the original version (still available here) was repeated.

Foundations-an essay on BonaResponds from Phil

Foundations by Phil Penepent

My first experience with BonaResponds was on Spring Break during my freshman year (Spring 2008). I went with a group of nearly 100 volunteers to Pearlington Mississippi and assisted in building new houses for Hurricane Katrina Victims. On our way we stopped in Pass Christian to drop off a dozen of our people for the week.

Everyone got off the bus at the base camp there to take a look around. I began wandering and ended up across the street. What I found was an eerie sight at first: a whole foundation, no house attached, with the words “don’t demolish, will rebuild” spray painted to the front. That foundation wasn’t the only one I saw that week that still didn’t have a house on top of it in Mississippi. While I worked on rebuilding houses I reflected on that first foundation I saw. Those unmovable foundations made me realize that if you build a strong enough foundation in life, nothing will be able to rock it and you can always rebuild.

This lesson has become a driving force for me back here at Bonas. I do whatever it takes to get the most out of the education I receive in order to build a solid foundation for the rest of my life. I am lucky to have taken away a lesson like this and be able to make it into a mission statement for this unique period in my life.

A solid foundation for me has meant achievement in the classroom, studying abroad in Italy last semester, obtaining valuable internships, and being actively involved in my community.

In retrospect, that barren foundation had a big effect on me so far. I had not even begun volunteering with BR at that point and I was already learning life lessons. By being involved I have recognized that BonaResponds is part of my extraordinary story and I continue to take an active role in the organization. BR allowed me to break out of my shell as a freshman while making some very close friends. Since my first Gulf Coast trip I have become a leader on numerous local service days in Buffalo, Olean, Friendship, and Salamanca. I really enjoy recruiting people to volunteer with us and talking about my experiences!

What are you doing this Weekend?

There are many opportunities to volunteer!

1. You could help in Machias building a new home for the Eisenhardt a family that has had almost unbelievably bad health issues.

2. You could Go to Friendship and help Ed and Donna move items to finish their floor. (BTW they have qualified for a NYS Conservation Assistance program and will be getting a new energy efficient furnace plus more insulation.)

3. You could take part in hunger walk leaving from the Warming House.

"This Sunday - Olean Area Walk for Hunger Relief

Please consider walking in the

Olean Area Walk for Hunger Relief this Sunday, Nov 8, at 2 p.m., to aid local emergency food providers. The three mile walk begins and ends from the Warming House. Get information, including pledge sheet, in the RC from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday, or contact Trevor Thompson tthompso@sbu.edu, X2601"

4. Weather permitting, you could go put on the final coat of paint on the wheel chair ramp and back porch for Jim and Beverly in East Olean.

5. You could help BonaResponds help others, by putting together our shelves and organize our storage room (note: drywall screws do not go with signs and clothing!)

6. You could work on the Trails through Bob's Woods. Need dirt laid down, some branches clipped back, and for the really ambitious, some signs made.

7. If you are in Buffalo you could help Buffalo ReUse take down a house in 24 hours. Yes, they are working late night! From Buffalo Rising:

"ReUse will begin deconstruction on Sunday, November 8th, the day after the announcement. They're calling for volunteers on Sunday from about 10am until midnight, but the greatest need will be from 10am-4pm"

So get out and do something! Life is too short to sit around and watch TV. (and besides, the Bills are on a bye week ;) )



For information on these opportunities come to our meeting at 5:15 on Thursday in Murphy Aud C, or watch the blog and Twitter updates)

Go Pro Bono to Rescue Morale - Sylvia Ann Hewlett - Harvard Business Review

Go Pro Bono to Rescue Morale - Sylvia Ann Hewlett - Harvard Business Review:

"In late September, Moody's kicked off a philanthropic program which is set to both burnish its brand and enhance its ability to hold onto top talent through a tight alignment with its core value proposition. Developed in partnership with respected nonprofit Kiva.org, the new initiative brings Moody's expertise in assessing creditworthiness to Kiva's large network of microfinance partners around the world. These microfinance institutions do much to alleviate poverty by serving as conduits for loans of just a few hundred dollars to individual small business owners, and also by servicing those microloans."

Yes we are still trying to get our program approved. It is going on a year. Not sure what takes attorneys so long.

Volunteer opportunity to help local SPCA

Help make pizzas to help the SPCA

BonaResponds was asked if we could get some volunteers for the annual Pizza Sale for the Cattaraugus County SPCA. Last year they made (and sold) 800 pizzas as a fund raiser for the local no-kill animal shelter. The pizza making is 12-4 on Sunday at the Pulaski Club in North Olean.

For more info see
http://www.spcacattco.com/

A thank you from the "Olean Basement job"

To All of the Wonderful Amazing volunteers of BonaResponds,

Words can't express our gratitude and thanks to you, and all the wonderful, amazing volunteers who came and helped us in our time of need.

We can't believe that you wouldn't have taken one look at how bad our basement was and turned around and left. It was in such terrible shape and the water and sewer and mold damage on years and years of junk made it so much worse.

It is unbelievable that you all stayed and dedicated your whole day and night to clean everything out of our basement, hosing it all down and bleaching it.

It's hard to believe you didn't run away screaming in terror.

You are all so amazing and wonderful! It's so reassuring to find out there are still such wonderful, caring people in the world. We were certainly blessed to find all of you wonderful people to help us!

The words "Thank You" seem so inadequate and empty for everything you did for us. We will never be able to thank you enough, but you all have our undying and heartfelt gratitude.

God Bless You All for the terrific job you all did and the "miracle" you worked for us!!!!

Thank You So Much!!!

Sincerely,

"The Sweeten Family"

George H.W. Bush, Obama Celebrate Volunteerism - washingtonpost.com

Volunteerism cuts across all lines and is good for everyone. So come out and volunteer!

George H.W. Bush, Obama Celebrate Volunteerism - washingtonpost.com:

"Friday, Obama stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Bush's father, the 41st president, in a joint celebration of volunteerism and civic involvement that hinted at a possible thaw that might yet emerge between the two camps.

At Texas A&M University, during a commemoration of George H.W. Bush's call to service in his 1989 inaugural address, Obama heaped praise on the former president for offering a 'vision that's changed lives across this country.'"

Thank you for work during Livestrong Days

We got the following Thank-You card in the mail today.

Thank You

It's hard to find words
that would even begin
to thank you enough
for how thoughtful you've been.

...I can not find words enough to express my thanks for your [BonaResponds] team that spent almost a whole day on my property working constantly all the time they were here. I could never have afforded to have someone do all the works that they accomplished. When you get to the point where I am in my life, and I know I am not alone, [I just] "Thank God" for people like...your workers. I wish there was something I could do for each and everyone of them.

They are certainly welcome to come here here to just enjoy the property anytime they wish. My dogs enjoyed having then her also....

If you could please give each and everyone of them my thanks.

God bless you and your people,

Sincerely, Carol (and Rick)

Jim's speech in Gowanda

Jim gave a speech at the Recovery Celebration in Gowanda.

Gowanda Essay: Thanks for being here

October 9: Remember back 6 weeks ago I said I would be writing a series of reflective essays about our work in Gowanda? Well, between school starting, other BonaResponds events, a finance club trip to NYC, and some family things, I got side tracked. But I would like to share at least of the thoughts with you, so I will write them up as time permits.


Gowanda August 23, 2009

BonaResponds has traveled the country to help people recover after natural disasters. After these disasters we have helped people by gutting houses, cutting downed trees, putting on new roofs, building sheds, drywalling, painting, and even occasionally helping people move back into their refurbished homes. The interesting thing is, that almost without exception, those we are helping tell us, generally fighting back tears, that our just being there was as important as the work we actually accomplished. That our presence gave them hope and the energy energy necessary to fight the next round of battles in the long road to recovery.

This message has been drilled into volunteers on every trip: talking to the survivors, listening to their stories, and just being there is important. As the leader of BonaResponds, I understood the importance, but I confess I never truly believed it. Oh sure, I knew psychology mattered and talking helped, but the real real reason for us being there, the way we really helped, was the dirty, physical work. Or so I believed.

Today that view was forever changed. I was on the other side of receiving help. I had over-committed BonaResponds. Expecting more volunteers that we got, I committed to several jobs around town, but the first (and largest) was mucking out an enormous basement down on Main St.

After about 2 hours of struggling with the eight inches of mud that blanketed the three giant rooms, it became apparent that we were not going to be able to finish the job, let alone the others that were waiting.

And then, almost miraculously, help arrived in the form of the Community Gang #103 from the Collins Correctional Facility. And a funny thing happened, as the crew lifted buckets of mud, they also lifted out spirits. As they pushed wheel barrows, they pushed us to do more.

Sooner than could have been imagined, the job was done. As we all shared a meal on the front porch, we thanked the work crew for all the help. I hope they realize we were thanking them for more than just the physical effort. We were thanking them for being there and for giving us the energy to continue on to the next job.

PSA on benefits of Volunteering by Gwyneth Paltrow

YouTube - iParticipate: Blythe Danner and Gwyneth Paltrow celebrate the health benefits of volunteering.:

"Actresses and mother-daughter pair Blythe Danner and Gwyneth Paltrow celebrate the health benefits of volunteering."

For those on the Fall Break trip

BonaResponds Fall Break

For those who are going on the BonaResponds Fall Break trip, meet at 5pm over near the maintenance garage. Be sure to bring warm work clothes, boots, a sleeping bag.

For those who want to work a part of the trip, you can meet us in Gowanda on Saturday at 10 or following on Jamestown St (near Chestnut--big house). For later dates, please check our blog (http://BonaResponds.blogspot.com-updated nightly) or twitter account http://Twitter.com/BonaResponds (update many times a day) for regular updates.

We will be working in the Olean area on Monday and Tuesday.

Quotes quotes and more quotes

Comments given in various interviews over the past few days


* "The Fall Break trip is a staple of BonaResponds. We were formed over a fall break and have gone to Mississippi, Ohio, and Iowa. This year with no disasters in region, staying in WNY is a great opportunity. We can finish up work in Gowanda as well as help some people locally."

* I"n some ways a local "trip" is the best of both worlds. We get to help people and have fun doing it, without the costs and stress of traveling half way across the country."

* "One of our local jobs in Olean will be to finish up a wheel chair ramp for a woman who has not been able to go outside by herself in over a year. It will give her more freedom and improve her lifestyle."

* "Another job will be cleaning out the basement of an elderly Olean woman. It is a sad story that is largely a replay of what we did last year in Cowenango Valley. The basement needs to be cleaned out before a new furnace can be installed. It may not be the most glamorous job in the world, but it is a vital step to getting this woman heat. She went last winter without it."

* "It will be a great weekend: good work and good fun. The jobs are good and I am sure the volunteers will not only help others, but have a great time doing so."

Volunteerism is a changin' - Belleville Intelligencer - Ontario, CA

Volunteerism is a changin' - Belleville Intelligencer - Ontario, CA:

"....The recent trend is volunteers are also professionals that want to give back to the community they live in.

Volunteers come from all walks of life and have a variety of skills to offer. Volunteers seek opportunities in the community for a variety of reasons such as filling a void, gaining experience, building resumés and exploring career opportunities to name a few.

Volunteer positions are available on a daily, weekly or monthly basis."

BonaResponds Fall break 2009 trip!

Good news! There have been no major disasters of late locally or nationally! EXCELLENT!

Now with that in mind, it allows us to think about what BonaResponds can do this fall break without pressure of having to get somewhere to help those in an emergency situation.

BonaResponds is staying local! That's right our fall break trip is to Western New York!

But before you roll your eyes and say I am not interested, consider that you will have the fun of a trip without the travel and cost!

In the past students have given the following reasons for going on trips with us:

1. to help others in a time of need
2. to have fun
3. to meet new friends
4. to hang out with old friends
   
5. to learn new skills
6. to build a resume
7. to experience new things
8. to save the expense of a long trip home
   

And guess what? Each of these is met and even better, we will be able to do it without sitting in a van for countless hours!

BonaResponds | Home Page:

"This fall break, we'll be working between Gowanda and locally. Check out our tentative agenda below... it's full of good work and good fun!! Won't you join us? And bring a friend! Please sign up here.

Friday 10/9 - Camping in Gowanda

* 5 PM - 8 PM: Work Evening in Gowanda

Saturday 10/10 - Camping in Gowanda
* 10 AM - 3 PM: Work Day in Gowanda
* 4 PM - ???: Thank You Celebration - Complete with Parade, Fireworks, and Barbecue.... live music, Ruben Brown, great fun!!!

Sunday 10/11 - Camping at Allegany State Park
* 10 AM - 4 PM: Work Day in Gowanda

Monday 10/12 (Columbus Day) - Camping at Allegany State Park

* 9 AM - 5 PM: Work Day Locally

Tuesday 10/13
* 10 AM - 3 PM: Work Day Locally"

Bring sleeping bags and work clothes, gloves, etc. We will be staying in cabins and/or lodges. In BonaResponds' style, the accommodations are not luxurious but will be fun.

Camp fires at night, good work in the day. You will have fun and do good work!

Open to all. a great opportunity for faculty and staff to be involved for a day or two.

Sign up here!


For a more complete list of what to bring, consider this list from our winter break trip. The work we will be doing is similar in many respects, so I would encourage similar belongings.