BonaResponds Blog

February 24th update

2022-02-24T14:51:00.008-05:00

Some fast updates. I am combining PositiveRipples (PR), and BonaResponds (BR) posts together. And I will cross-post. Sorry for any duplication.

LINK:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vT2ch8kl9aaqF6tzsc0tR7tmVa4lEA9JkjLOtfVFXNi9RWgLb18CqJ9O06Zx9jVa0-keX0BYqz6JgzS/pub

Some fast updates. I am combining PositiveRipples (PR), and BonaResponds (BR) posts together. And I will cross-post. Sorry for any duplication.
1. BR: This Saturday (and likely next week some as #Bonas is on spring break) we will be cleaning up after flood damage in Allegany NY. Meeting at 11:15 behind Swan (by Baseball field, grotto, and the Maintenance garage) on SBU campus.
2. BR: Brother Joe has sent several pictures and updates. Short version: the 750+ food bags that BR packed are greatly appreciated and people at the shelters all want to thank the donors and volunteers. He said they are covering many areas and that the needs are great but many people are working together to help.
3. PR: Julemiste (the 13-year-old girl with sickle cell anemia from Leogane Haiti) has received treatments with the initial money we sent. Her care providers are looking for a specialist to treat her on a more long-term basis. Stay tuned, but a HUGE THANK YOU to those who have helped get her this far!
4. PR: The roof went on Abduraman’s house. He is the young man who has many challenges (we gave him crutches in the past). The next issue: he needs a mattress as the previous lack of a roof (it blew off in a storm back in December) led to rain in the house and this mattress got wet and moldy. Stay tuned. He is going to see how inexpensive they are.
5. PR: Peter (the 7-year-old boy who needed emergency intestinal surgery) is doing well. He and his family are still in Freetown. They are so thankful for all of you who helped!
6. BR: planning for the basketball tournaments is ongoing. We will likely start with one in Makeni Sierra Leone. The planning in Haiti is a bit more complicated, but I am confident we can make it work.
7. PR: The 4th water well is working! Porky said it was the most difficult work he has done in his many years of working with us. A great round of applause to him and the others who worked on this (and of course the donors!)
8. PR: we had another request for a water well and/or more water tanks in Sierra Leone. I would LOVE to say we could do it, but I do not know. We are spread thin, too thin, but the need and suffering are great. So, we do not know yet.
9. PR: Rochelin and his team have now planted over 3000 trees this school year! And in very exciting news, PositiveRipples will be teaming up with Energy Mark to help get more people using green energy AND to get more trees planted. (Thanks to Luke Marchiori)
10. PR: the cabbage and peppers are growing well in Haiti. PositiveRipples holds an equity stake in this farm and money raised on the sale will be used to help further our efforts in Haiti. Porky is the superhero on this one!
11. BR: Super excited to be working with the Olean YMCA on a ramp building/fundraiser for them when the weather warms some. I would love to tell you a date on that, but....stay tuned.
12. BR: Look for a blanket-making day right after the midterm break.
13. BR: We are happy to be co-sponsoring bringing Father Greg Boyle to campus in September. Stay tuned! Save Sept 14th! Likely date. Can’t wait? Contact me, Tom Vozzo, the CEO of Homeboy and author of the newly released “The Homeboy Way” will be speaking on SOOM to my classes and BR volunteers. If you would like to take part, please let me know!
14. BR: We lost a hero this week. Dr. Paul Farmer died. He was an inspiration to millions and his work has saved untold thousands in Haiti and around the world. As a way of paying tribute to him, we will be teaming up with the great people in Bonaventure School of Health Care professionals to show this film. Stay tuned. We do not know details (I always tell more than I know, sooner than I should!) https://vimeo.com/240894618
15. Once the weather breaks, we have multiple ramp jobs and trail work waiting. PLEASE help :)
16. We are always looking for volunteers locally especially. Getting people out has been hard with the weather and covid. We’d love to have you out helping with us!
17. I would be remiss if I left out Matt for helping to recruit new students for SBU and volunteers for BR at the recent Scholars Day at SBU. THANK YOU Matthew!
You can send items directly to the migrant shelter

https://smile.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1KVJ8RZH21B2D/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2

This is Sr Judy!! https://ssnd.org/douglas5-30-21/

Immigration: Food Packing for people along the Mexican border

2021-11-03T17:35:00.004-04:00

November 6, 2021. Swan 101 11:00-3:00??

Come help us pack food for those along the US Southern border.

There are no easy answers to the issue of immigration. People are traveling for a myriad of reasons. Some are running from gangs. Some are running from corruption. Some want to be with family members. All want a better life.

No matter what side of the immigration debate you are on, I hope you agree the immigrants are people who deserve to be treated as our brothers and sisters. They have gone through so much.

Please join us on Saturday and learn more about the issues facing the immigrants and what we can do to help. We will be packing food and writing notes to them to encourage them and spread hope and a reminder that they are important people.

Here is an informational page:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRSI4e3NDbtFBRJSAEahBSmBnHVdIwu_iXHcz88THzzLhrgzk-saSFZKO4Z-1ExTlZOV0CgSDTc-qNs/pub

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMcZE6I1j0ZnKLDIXBtMMvunU07hBChBfnT_OBpcrTgZrs3Q/viewform?usp=sf_link

There will be a zoom link for the food packing event. Please fill out the above form to participate and to get the link.

Short-term "pain", long-term gain

2021-10-12T12:28:00.003-04:00

One problem with volunteering is that you often don't see a long-term impact of a project. Indeed it is a problem in life itself. We can see and measure the short-term cost, but rarely see, and almost never measure, the longer-term benefits (and positive ripples).

Of course, you sometimes see instantaneous results. We can see the homeowner moving back in after a disaster, or seeing a physically challenged person use his/her new wheelchair ramp and knowing that it will give safety and the ability to live at home. Likewise, we see the smile of a child when you give them books or school supplies. We see the water running in the wells we fund in less developed nations. We may even see the report cards of the students we help attend school through our scholarship programs.

But you just never know. You are never certain that the work is worth it. On days when I am tired or busy or after a defeat (and yes, there are defeats), I would be lying if I didn’t admit to questioning the longer-term impact of some of our projects. And I am sure I am not alone.

This weekend I was fortunate to see some of those longer-term impacts and the stories are heart-warming as well as motivational.

This weekend we worked at the Remote Area Medical Pop-up Clinic in Belmont New York. I want to start this story by publicly stating that we had nothing to do with the actual planning or organizing of the event. That task was on Anne, Nikki, and others who worked for over a year to get the event to Allegany County. And they did a great job!

A RAM event takes many, many volunteers. I do not know the final number for this event, but for the one in Olean we had almost 500 volunteer shifts and I am confident that this one was similar. Each person who volunteered made a difference and without them, the events would not be successful (the same is true for virtually any event!)

I spotlight the importance of all volunteers to single out a small handful of volunteers at this event (they will remain nameless). These volunteers had been patients at the event in Olean a month ago. Now they were giving up their weekend to help others. In volunteering, they became but the latest in a long list of people who after getting a hand-up, come together to give back and help others up. In doing so, they became a great example of the BonaResponds’ mantras that from time to time we all need a helping hand and also the basic tenant in all of our work that all people have value and can share that value to make the world a better place.

The next story is only loosely tied to the RAM event. At the RAM event, like most events, I got the job that required the least skill. It was to patrol the parking lot and help get people signed in. It was a job that truly anyone could do and indeed I encourage you all to do it the next time that RAM returns to the area! But I will confess that two days of very little sleep and much standing led to the short-run consequences of sore feet and tired legs.

So in the five hours between the end of my overnight shift and the start of the take-down shift, I drove home for a few hours of sleep and a short run on the Genesee Valley Greenway Trail in Hinsdale. To say it was a slow run is an understatement. My legs had zero energy and each step hurt my feet, but I did it. And as the run went on I felt a little better.

I tell you the story not to discuss my lack of fitness, but to mention what I saw on the trail: a family out walking. I know it is not earth-shattering news, but to see them walking on a trail that BonaResponds has worked so hard on was very encouraging and uplifting. Yes, there are "maybes", but the "maybes" are all good: Maybe the kids will appreciate nature more. Maybe the parents will have less stress. Maybe the whole family will be more healthy. Collectively, the "maybes" dwarfed the memories of the work needed to help make the trail.

The last story I want to tell of the weekend has to do with another project that BR has worked on, that was not universally popular within the BR volunteer team: work at Gargoyle Park in Olean to help build a disc-golf course. It was hard work (especially when the City would not allow us to use chain saws back in the spring) and when we had few volunteers this fall. The goal of the project (for which Rich deserves most of the credit) is to give people something to do outside that is a good family activity as well as providing some exercise and maybe serve as a draw for the Olean area. This weekend all of those things happened as they hosted the first disc golf tournament. Participants came from hundreds of miles and over 80 competed. A great start to a project that I hope continues to spread positive ripples for generations to come.

What is the takeaway? The good effects of volunteering can be felt long after the short-run weariness is gone. Think long-term! Volunteer and change the world!

How was your weekend?

2021-09-27T09:51:00.003-04:00

How was your weekend? BonaResponds and PositiveRipples had a very productive one!

Locally, we built a wheelchair ramp for Ken and his family! Great work by the volunteers on Family weekend!
On Sunday, the trailer was cleaned out and the West End trails in Bobs’ Woods (to the West of the tennis Courts and maintenance garage were cut and trimmed! And thanks to the generous donation of a riding mower the work took just a fraction of the time!
In Les Cayes Haiti, donations to PositiveRipples made it possible to fix the 4th water well since the August 14th earthquake. I find it hard to believe, but we are told that almost 2000 households now depend on water from these wells. It is hard to imagine a more impactful program. Great job Porky!
Also near Les Cayes, Haiti, Rochelin and his team of about 16 volunteers completed clearing their 9th building. Simply wonderful (but very hot and difficult work). Your donations to PositiveRipples will keep them with the needed tools to accomplish this great work.
In Freetown Sierra Leone, Aminata purchased 70 trees that are expected to be planted this coming weekend (in conjunction with Francis Week on campus!). This is one of the cooler programs that I have been part of as she is buying the trees as a means of paying back a loan from PositiveRipples that was used to expand her inventory to include handbags and more clothes. Multiple wins!
Near Makeni Sierra Leone, Bangura and his friends raised money to pay for 9 students in school as part of his Birthday celebration. If you want to get them to 10, you can donate to PositiveRipples.org and just say that you want the money to go to school children in Sierra Leone.

Not a bad weekend! It was not perfect as we did have other requests (in Haiti, Sierra Leone, and Liberia that we didn’t have the funds for, and locally that we didn’t have the volunteers for), but a great weekend! Thank you to all who make it possible!

Remember, Bonaventure and Olean are not in the middle of no where, but in the middle of everywhere!

2021-09-08T08:34:00.003-04:00

Super excited about Remote Area Medical coming to Olean!

Help spread the word!

From FB:

TEXAS is Calling!

2021-02-20T19:04:00.001-05:00

Remember Dickenson Texas post-Hurricane Harvey? No, here is a video of the trip: https://youtu.be/gAqmjoSuUB4

Why are we bringing it up now?  We spoke with PastorAmos Sowell this afternoon.  He is just a great guy!  We stayed with him on two different trips and met with him on three trips to the area.   

While he is still recovering from being hospitalized with Covid, he is helping to organize help for those in the Dickenson area who had frozen pipes, etc as a result of the recent weather and electric disaster there.  

PositiveRipples
 will be spearheading a collection for water, drywall, and plumbing supplies.   

When speaking to him, he said they still had work left from Harvey, and definitely need a helping hand now!  

PositiveRipples will be sending money a few times, so please lend a hand.   IDEALLY, we can go down there after everyone gets vaccinated and we are again allowed to travel, SO PLEASE GET VACCINATED and mask up now so the spread stops!   

We will have more updates coming, but please think about donating to PositiveRIpples.org (and comment TEXAS) on the donations that you want to go there!

Let's get people registered for the vaccines!

2021-01-15T13:09:00.002-05:00

Getting people vaccinated is a huge priority right now. And BonaResponds needs your help!

Our main need is on Tuesdays. We will be working with the Cattaraugus County Health Department to help people register.

Our time slot is 8:30-3:00 (we may add more). We will split it. Not sure on exact details yet (would it be a BR event if I were sure of anything?). For starters (this week only?)

8:30-12:00 and 11:30-3:00.

We need people who have been being safe/ or tested, do not have COVID, or have had it or are vaccinated. Masks will be required. We will be socially distanced.

On Saturdays, we will be doing something different but will be helping people know how to sign up. Tuesday is our biggest need right now!

This is what I sent out on WhatsApp:

Remember: the biggest at-risk group is elderly and it is hitting poor communities hardest, these groups are the ones least able to register online and they depend on phones. HENCE THE NEED FOR PHONES and HELPERS!

If you can help it would be a great thing to help end this pandemic that much sooner.

I am sure there will be many questions, but like most BR projects I do not have the answers yet. I can say, it will help get the local vaccine project moving as we will free up others to run and coordinate clinics and the like.

Tuesdays (all semester) will be our slot. 8:30-3:00. We can break it up but we will need many people. I am suggesting 8:30-12:00, 12:00-3:30 time slots for now. We can change it going forward. (At the present we will NOT be offering transportation.)

Here is a form to sign up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdIwGeFgQGPc6YOCnL1bsrlLEFJ9ndnD22MrYa3nhc_2DSZ_w/viewform?usp=sf_link. Thank you in advance for helping! We are living through historical times and we all need to pull together!:

Hard times around the world and down the block

2020-11-22T11:14:00.003-05:00

November 22, 2020

These are hard times. For all of us.

It is difficult for students forced to be away from class.

It is stressful for business owners worried about the future of the businesses.

It is bad for children who want to see their friends and loved ones.

It is lonely for the elderly who are not allowed visitors, can't go out, and can not just "jump online" and video chat with friends around the world.

It is difficult for the essential workers who are working extra hours in stressful conditions as well as those people who have lost their jobs and are not sure where their next meal is coming from.

I could go on and on. We all could.

I do not want this to be a message of despair, but a message of hope. I want this to be a message reminding us all (including myself) that we can make the world a little better. A message of unity from the chaos and insanity of division. A message of love from a world where many are determined to spread hate. A message of “yes we can” in a world where we are all so overwhelmed that we feel our efforts are meaningless.

In the past day alone I have heard from friends far and wide going through tough times. They do not know (or just barely know) each other and had no idea they were all texting with me. They are from around the world and down the block. They are my constant reminder that we are all neighbors in universe-space.

(note these stories are all true but I am changing just enough that they won’t be known as none gave me permission to share their stories.)

I will start off in Haiti. A text from a friend there was reminding me that many children can not go to school and that he and his team want to build a new school where teachers will be able to get more poor children off the streets and into classrooms. But that such a school costs money (his very low estimate was $2500 and money is tough to be found.

I next heard from a friend who runs a home for poor children in Port au Prince Haiti. She told of violence and killings in the Haitian capital and even kidnappings on their street. She told of the chaos that the widely-swinging foreign exchange rate was bringing to the country, and of the energy crisis that was facing Haiti. Oh and that Covid19 was picking up there too, but the government can not afford to have people tested.

Jumping to the Bahamas, I heard from a friend who can not find work as many businesses have been closed and others are open but only for limited hours. This friend was having a very difficult time back before hurricane Dorian hit ravishing the island. When BonaResponds left the island in March (just as the virus was exploding around the globe and shutting down international tourism on which so much of Bahamas depends), my friend was handing out resumes. The summer was exceedingly difficult as the island was shut down (Shut-downs there were MUCH more harsh than those in the USA) and then several months were lost to his/her own medical issues that led to a prolonged hospital stay.

Going to a major city in Sierra Leone next, I got many texts from anfriend who had gone out of the city into a small village and saw how the poor children are suffering from a lack of food brought apart in large part from the economic downturn brought about by the virus and the political situation in Sierra Leone.

Staying in Sierra Leone I heard from a very good friend who has been traveling. A few weeks ago he was invited to speak at a school for disabled children and saw how bad it was there. He wants to help so much, but as always funds are limited. He is a wonderful person who want to help, but is in a difficult place right now.

Back to the USA, a message from a single-mom in Western New York (near Buffalo not the Hudson River) who recently recovered from the virus (it was awful by the way) and was now facing the simultaneous challenges of isolation, online schooling, excess work (she works in the healthcare field), and a lack of the typical stress relievers (gyms, restaurants, and family and friend time).

And now we will come back to Olean where a text from a medical professional in Olean (where I live) led to this post. She told of how many of her patients (who disportionately are elderly and many in nursing homes) are really suffering from social isolation. She texted that her kids wanted to see their grandfather. She texted that she wanted to get back to more normal routines; of not having to worry about a fast stop at the market and not bringing back the virus to her family.

I have probably written too much, given you too many examples, but I want you to all know that feeling stressed and “down” is normal right now. It is not “just you” it is all of us.

But I would be remiss if I did not also tell you the good that is happening that might not be known. So please stay with me for a bit. Let me tell you of 4 pallets of school supplies and medical equipment going to Haiti, or the 2 pallets going to schools on the Navajo Reservation, or the pallet that was distributed to St. Francis Elementary School an inner city school in Cleveland, or the van full of items that went to Buffalo’s Catholic Charities for refugees from the Congo, or 9 wheelchair ramps that BonaResponds made this semester, or the trails that are clear so people can relax with nature, or the penpal program started to write to those in nursing homes, or helping with toy distribution locally or helping to paint at the Warming House or about starting our Haitian tree program to give jobs/give food/reduce carbon in the atmosphere, or maybe our biggest success: Ibrahim.

To those who have been friends for a while, you probably remember Ibrahim. He is from Sierra Leone. Almost a year ago he was hit by a truck while selling ataya (tea) on the streets of Makeni. Not having money, he waited for the badly broken leg to heal (both the tibia and fibula were broken). This made things worse and we were asked to help. YOU all pitched in and we raised enough money to allow him to have his surgery (about 8 months after the accident). The surgery was a success and he is recovering. This is a huge win and you all should be rightly proud that in the middle of political turmoil, a pandemic, and uncertainty everywhere, you made a positive difference. You gave Ibrahim his leg back. You gave him hope for a better tomorrow.

This all reminds me of the famous starfish story. If you have never heard me tell it, or even if you have, here is my favorite video on it. (and yes, I have watched about 8 of them this morning alone): https://youtu.be/Q-R5LqE3nzY

All of us can and do make a difference to many in all that we do. From helping future generations, to checking in on friends, to being kind at the checkout stand, to donating to charities, to just smiling and listening to a friend. You are all doing so much to make the world better. I want to thank you.

I also want you to try and focus a little more on the good, than the bad. There is always enough bad to go around. Let’s think more about the good. Let’s all push to make the good a little more. To give a helping hand to those near and far that need a friend to listen or a hand to hold (virtually of course as the pandemic is still real!).

________________

How can you help more? I am sure some of you will want to do more.

First, let me suggest that you already are helping! Your donations allow BonaResponds, HaitiScholarships, and PositiveRipples to do what we do. Indeed, long ago (likely right after Katrina) I started saying “without you, BonaResponds is just a good idea” and I mean that still. So thank you!

If you want to help today or this holiday season, please keep this post in mind. Together we can make the world better. Big or small. We need people to edit videos, to write newsletters, to be penpals, to stand in a parking lot and help collect cans and bottles, to make blankets, to write thank-yous.

I do not know how to rank all those that need help. I do not have the mental power to say one gets help and one does not. It truly is the worst part of all of this.

But I can say that any donation will be used to make the world a better place.

But I can say that Ibrahim is asking for a $500 loan to get a business started. We have about $200 left from the initial donations for him, so I think that is first. Need $300 to PositiveRipples.org he can start his new business.

After that I can definitely say that $1000 can give our microloan programs in Haiti a huge jumpstart, that $300 can plant about 100 trees in Haiti, that $1000 would go a long long ways to helping the disabled students in Sierra Leone.

I can say that $50 buys books for Bonaventure students from the new Brothers and Sisters All reading list, that $25 to HaitiScholarships.org pays for a month of schooling for a student.

Or $5 buys a case of water for a ramp day.

Well, you get the idea. Any bit helps.

So while it is super hard to rank the needs, I think I would say:

PositiveRipples, HaitiScholarships, and then BonaResponds (we are more constrained in how we can use the funds there) are how I would rank the needs.

But we also need helpers (virtual mainly)! So if you want to help, please get on our Whatsapp thread and lend a hand!

Feeling better yet? I hope so! Let’s focus on progress and not the many many problems facing the world. Many hands make light work. Together we can make the world better.

We have to start somewhere. So start where you are.

We have to start sometime. So start today.

We can help one starfish. We can help one person. And one is much better than none!

https://www.positiveripples.org/

http://www.haitischolarships.org/

http://bonaresponds.org/

2020-10-28T10:13:00.002-04:00

Update on "things": (from FB)

1. The virus has definitely limited our efforts but not eliminated them!   We have done 6 ramps this semester, had 3 "can and bottle" drives,  loaded 2 pallets and 3 more pallets

 waiting to pack for schools, and have done 4-5 trail clearing days so far this semester.  

2. Last two days to donate to http://PositiveRipples.org # to buy books for local (and Queens NY where Mark was from) libraries and schools.  Focus of books: black lives. In memory of Mark Stewart a volunteer who died this summer in a hit-and-run accident in NYC. We have raised almost $2000 through can and bottle drives so far for this.

3. Raised $950 for HaitiScholarships.  This will pay for a month of school for about 40 students!   If you want to help: donate at HaitiScholarshisp.org.   $1 a day is about what it takes to change the life of a child!  

4. We have a tree-planting program ALMOST ready to launch in Haiti!   It is so close.  We had hoped to be started by the start of October, but well, things happened.  (there is a pandemic happening and well school and about 1million other things).  How it will work: we raise money to allow businesses (or individuals) to go 'Carbon neutral" (win 1) which will create jobs through our partners in Haiti plant trees (win 2).  The trees lower run-off which will reduce flooding (win 3), lower erosion (win 4), and provide shade (it is hot in Haiti!) (win 5).  Many of the trees will also provide food (citrus, moringa, coconut, avocado) (win 6).  In a few years, once the trees are established, we can grow coffee under the shade (win 7).   Yeah, donate!  great program!   BTW we hope to also do this tree program in the Bahamas where we have discussed it with schools and a member of parliament.  (donate at PositiveRipples.org (mention trees) 🌳 🌲 

5. We'd love to expand the microloan programs in Haiti.  We did start a new one in Leogane with the help of Lamarre (it is taking some time as his mom is in danger of losing her leg at the knee to diabetes and he has obviously been tied up trying to help her!  

6. We are playing an integral role is the starting of BrothersandSistersall.org a website for social justice in conjunction with the St. Bonaventure University School of Business and their new Black Student Enterprise program, the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany and Associates, Bonaventure Franciscan Center for Social Concern, and of course PositiveRipples!   If you don't follow us, please do!   Bonas for Social Justice!   (also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SBU4SOCJustice)

7.  This weekend we are building a ramp for a Vietnam war veteran, scouting and dropping off material for a ramp for a woman with cancer, and Hopefully getting some blankets made by a few local church groups as we are pretty much out of WarmSnugglyBlankets.  

8.  We also won a great honor from the Character Council of WNY  as we were selected to represent character and honesty in action.  A poster they made will be hung in high schools across WNY!

9. We'd love to have someone write up a newsletter :). and we still have many thank-you notes to write!  We really need to get more first-year students involved.  Also, one of our leaders will be graduating and one is transferring closer to home as a result of covid, so we REALLY need more leaders :) . 

10. We were asked to share this "how Covid is affecting us" survey from the Buffalo United Way. (@Jennifer Owen is running the survey and is a former student who was a great student and I would love you to help her out with the survey!)  She stressed it is for all of NYS and not just Erie county!

https://www.facebook.com/UWBEC/posts/10158086940258040

Bahamas trip and upcoming events

2020-01-15T13:22:00.000-05:00

So much news, so little time!

In speed more, here goes:

The Bahamas trip was VERY productive. 8 wheelchair ramps done, three roofs tarped, three buildings (one house, one office, one apartment) gutted/partially gutted, 3 places where we did mold abatement, floorboards installed, classroom discussion on service and importance of education made, we worked one day at the YMCA, and ?? not sure what else I am missing. The volunteers were GREAT and the people we helped were very happy to get the assistance!
We are going back! Feb 28-March 8/9 Come with us! We have jobs lined up, a place to stay, the tools are in shipment, but we need volunteers. Look for a couple of meetings as soon as school starts back up. Or contact any of the BonaResponds leaders (Maggie, Evan, Kelly, or Natalie will have the most info on it... or me (JMahar@sbu.edu).
Locally: have many jobs backed up. First (given the weather) we will be doing iPads, Blankets, and an emergency production of Marsupial blankets. Look for it Saturday, January 25 in Swan. Also, have a workday at the Warming House coming up--I suspect Sunday, January 26th. Moving forward, we need a couple of packing days (for the Bahamas and for Haiti), we also have a request to paint in Portville for aquaponics program there. and of course, there are MANY ramps waiting for nicer weather.
Nationally: we want a short weekend trip to Cleveland. The idea is to work at St. Francis Elementary school again AND to have an educational component, a service component, and a basketball tournament.
Internationally: Haiti: shipments, more work on microloans, and hopefully an educational conference with Enactus. ALSO and this is MY favorite: more gardens and tree planting. and of course fundraising for HaitiScholarships.org
Internationally: Sierra Leone: new gardens, more educational projects, working to reduce suicides by working on personal worth and projects to spread hope and jobs.

Fall break trip

2019-09-27T09:35:00.001-04:00

BonaResponds' Fall Break trip will be to......Cleveland! It is still too early (and expensive) to get the Bahamas, so we will be working at St. Francis Elementary school in Cleveland. https://www.stfranciscleveland.com/

Jobs will include installing a new floor, painting, cleaning, installing a garden, and much more. It is a poor school that can really use our help! And a former BR leader works there so it will make our trip even more rewarding!

There are a limited number of spaces available. Cost is $40. Includes transport and food. We will be sleeping in cots on the basketball court.

https://forms.gle/2muBGGNuvkzfejaw8

This Saturday we will be helping rebuild Olean's King Street park. Meet at the BR trailer at GASP 8:45. It should be a fun day helping put up playground equipment and landscaping!

ALSO for the Bahamas, we will be collecting school supplies, coloring books and crayons and toys for Christmas. We have to ship before Thanksgiving. So when you are home for break, or just out shopping, we would love donated items. You can always drop off at 104B in Swan.

thanks everyone!!!!

jim

BonaResponds meetings

2019-09-05T14:42:00.005-04:00

BonaResponds General Meeting Monday, September 9, 2019 at 5:15-6:00 in Swan 101.

Topics will include Local workdays, HaitiScholarships, PositiveRipples, and a brief intro for our hurricane relief efforts.

The world needs you to help. We need you to help.

We have many needs but we especially need people to help with social media, website design, and Maintenance for HaitiScholarships and PositiveRipples, people to help collect items for school projects in Haiti and the Bahamas, people to help with logistics of people and supplies to aid in all of our projects, people to clean up and set up used iPads for schools in Bahamas and Haiti, and people to make and deliver WarmSnugglyBlankets for people with cancer.

We also would like a few people to coordinate our microloan program in Haiti and expand it to Sierra Leone. FINALLY, we need some people to help set up a series of 3 on 3 basketball tournaments in Haiti, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and (maybe) the Bahamas.

Then, on Thursday at 6:00 PM there will a joint Enactus/BonaResponds meeting in the Walsh Auditorium to focus on hurricane relief efforts in the Bahamas. Enactus has been going to the Bahamas for 18 years. The destruction from Hurricane Dorian is catastrophic with flooding and winds of over 180 MPH. It very well could be the most challenging hurricane relief efforts we have undertaken and we need the help of the entire Bonaventure community.

Volunteer and change the world!

Open to all.

________________________

The Good is winning. Even though it may not always seem like it

2018-11-21T14:38:00.001-05:00

Every day (and indeed every life) has some good and some bad. It important to remember that. We must face and admit the “bad”, but we can not dwell on it or it will paralyze us and halt our progress.

To say "It is a good day" or "It is a bad day" is in many ways just sloppy or incomplete thinking. Every day is good AND bad.

Every day, babies are born and people die; fortunes are lost and fortunes are made; teams win and other teams lose. It is life. Good and bad.

I hold as a central tenet of my existence that we should our attention as much as possible on the good and on the things that we can exert some influence over, while not focus as much on the “bad” and the “scary” that will be there always waiting to hijack our minds and, by extension, our efforts.

That said, today my updates have a large proportion of news I wish I didn't need to share.

The day started off a text from Charles in Freeport Bahamas that “Mama Marge” a wonderful friend who had become a regular acquaintance of those on the Enactus/BR trips had passed away this morning of cancer. She was a wonderful woman who ran a small souvenir shop in Port Lucaya. But the economy has been bad there and she lacked material wealth. Last year a group of volunteers cut back trees so her house could be seen (she had been robbed and hoped more visibility would help) and painted her home. She offered them all food. And yet, when I went inside her home, she confided that things were so tough her water had been turned off. But in spite of that, she was always willing to help, always there with a hug, and some words of advice. I hope that her life serves as a reminder that we should never judge a person’s success by the amount of money in his/her bank account, but by the way (s)he treated others. She will be greatly missed by all.

Less than an hour later, I received news from Sierra Leone that one of CAMSL’s leaders (our partner group there) had been rushed to the hospital. BUT the doctor needed to be paid ($250) for the surgery. Stop and think about that. I do not know the answer. Doctors need to be paid AND people (yes, even the poor) need to be cared for. I just do not know.

In a similar vein, I then read this. I should start off by saying I HATE cancer. I truly hate it. It causes such suffering. It took my mom, it took “mama Marge” today in the Bahamas, many of you are fighting it as you read this. I hate the disease.

While our ability to fight cancer is improving, a cancer diagnosis is still scary. Nowhere is that truer than in poor countries. Take for instance, Haiti. Haiti has limited health care facilities and even more limited funding for treatments. The nurses and doctors, often undertrained and overworked, struggle in incredible conditions. The patients suffer not only from their disease but from lack of adequate care. Today’s Miami Herald did the necessary and painful job of reminding us how much help is still needed. (I think this should come with a warning, you will want to get some tissues).
https://www.miamiherald.com/…/…/haiti/article217050580.html…

Then we had our own updates from Haiti. For those of you who don’t know, Haiti has been having days of protests and strikes to protest government corruption. Schools have been shut. Banks closed. Public (and most private) transportation non-existent. In Les Cayes our wells were scheduled to be shut for a day of cleaning and repainting, but city officials asked that they remain open. Microloan recipients have been forced (due to safety concerns) to temporarily close their businesses. A school leader is stuck in Port Au Prince and unable to travel home because of the violence. These are all bad things. I do not know the solution. Violence is wrong. Corruption is wrong. Abuse of power is wrong. But when they happen, how do we stop it? Education and patience are great but can be so slow. I do not know.

I started by saying that every day is both good and bad. The bad only appears to be winning. We can remember the bad easier. Bad news gets our attention more readily. So in spite of everything I just wrote, and in spite of the way today APPEARS to be going, I want to say that the good is actually winning.

As evidence let me just give you a few examples. Today, we were able to help someone in Sierra Leone get his needed surgery. Today in Sierra Leone, children went to school with school supplies and school uniforms. Today in Leogane Haiti,, we were able (through HaitiScholarships) check in to make sure all of the students were safe. Today in and around Les Cayes Haiti,, hundreds of people are able to have clean water from our wells on a day when traveling to a distant well might be too dangerous. Today, around the USA our Blankets are reminding people with cancer that they matter and that where there is life, there is hope. Today, we have 53 students in school in Liberia who would not be there if not for your generosity. Today, in the Bahamas, seeds are being planted for our garden program that will begin in January. Today in Haiti and the Bahamas, many people have roofs over their heads that do not leak because of your donations and the hard work of volunteers and Bahamians and Haitians. Today, we have people around the country getting in and out of their homes because of the wheelchair ramps that your donations have allowed us to make. Today, you are alive and can read this.

So today, when someone asks “how was your day?” I hope you hesitate just a bit to remember all of those who are going through so much but then answer “it is a good day-- the good is winning.”

From my (Jim's) page, so I am copying it here too. have a good day!

If you want to help with any of these projects, you can donate atPositiveRipples.org or BonaRepsonds.org or HaitiSchollarships.org. We really can't do it without you!

How to get involved from off campus.

2018-08-06T15:39:00.002-04:00

From out FB post:

We will be having many big work days coming up, but some of you can't travel and most of you are away from campus now, so how can you help right now? From where you are? Here is a SHORT list of ways from home.

1. We are collecting small toys, school supplies, children clothes, winter boots, and children books for the St. Bonaventure Indian Mission and School. We will be packing on August 26th.

2. We are packing small toiletries, granola bars, NEW socks, NEW underwear, and winter jackets for Outside the Walls to distribute to the homeless. Also, tee shirts.

3. We are still collecting tools, medical supplies, school supplies, soccer equipment, for schools and medical centers in Haiti. We are also collecting the large (empty) bags that pet food comes in!

4. We need pill bottles for a packing event where we will be shipping fishing and garden "kits" to Africa and Haiti. The fishing kits are in honor of a NYS trooper who lost his life. The family sends hundreds as a way to keep his memory alive while helping others.

5. Don't like any of these options? Buy a backpack (donate $55 at HaitiScholarships.org or at PositiveRipples.org. The money will buy the backpack, buy school supplies, and pay for a month of schooling in Haiti. (HaitiScholarships PositiveRipples). The backpacks will then be donated to a student in Haiti (unless you want them and that can be arranged).

6. Agree to help manage the PositiveRipples/HatiScholarships social media pages. Or to work on the WarmSnugglyBlanket Web page.

7. Like science? or Marketing? We are looking for some people to work on a carbon offset reforestation program in Haiti. We need a website developed, and help in marketing the program to individuals, businesses, and organizations (classes, teams, and church groups)

8. Still haven't found how you want to help? Donate to this great GoFundMe page. We are trying to educate 53 #Ebola Orphans in Liberia and could really really use your help! https://www.gofundme.com/school-support-for-53-ebola-orphans

If none of these excites you, let us know. We will see what we can do to come up with a project tailored to your needs!

Early April updates

2018-04-07T08:45:00.000-04:00

So much happening!

BIG announcement:  

BIG NEWS!!!

Next trip: May 15-22 (assuming we get people signed up) back to Dickinson Texas.   We'd love to have you along with us!   

Other updates:

* Spring into Bonas went very well!  Thank you to those who came out and helped!  

* The aquaponics program at Portville school is almost ready.  Great great work by Natalie and Evan of UrbanBiosphere!

* On April 19 we have 25 high school students coming from Olean High School to Campus to see what a day in college is like.  If you are on campus and can help, we would LOVE the help!

* BonaResponds/Positive agreed to buy approximately 500 coffee trees in Les Cayes.  $150 a year will be given back to an agriculture fund once the trees start producing.  

*  20 fishermen ended their three days of training on loans for nets. Tomorrow they will clean up the beaches by where they fish.   Next week they will be able to go back to their jobs for the first time in 18 months (since Matthew). EXCELLENT work by Jean Emmanuel Verdier and his crew! 

* Harvests in Sierra Leone went great.  Bangura Alimamy Tejan is doing a great job over there and we hope to be long-term partners.

* I think we are now over 115 microloans (mainly through Tout Moun Se Moun and PositiveRipples ) in Les Cayes and Leogane Haiti have all been paid off :)  

* FINALLY getting updates from Bishop Nelson Sampson Boegbah and his crew in Liberia.  This has been our most difficult program this year.  The need is so great there, but we need a better system.  A work in progress :)  :)  The Ebola orphans cannot be forgotten.  PERIOD! 

* Refunds for Praebibo should finally have gone out this week.  Sorry for the delay.  

* We are looking for a used van/truck.  Possibly Explorer?   Any suggestions/donations would be great!

* The Trails have taken a beating due to the winter storms.  We have been out numerous times already but there is much work to be done.

*  Two great videos focusing on BonaResponds/@Chris Branche came out this week for Spring Into Bonas: 

--By Gabe:  https://www.dropbox.com/s/69xi2nt8pq0odbp/Bona%20Responds%2C%20Dickinson%2C%202018%20%20short.mp4?dl=0

--By Danny Bush: https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=dLd5wBGRg3s

* Next big things internationally: WE HOPE: water well near Les Cayes Haiti, aquaponics near Leogane Haiti, a Cassava farm in Sierra Leone, another payment for the Ebola Orphans in Liberia, and a shipment of medical and school supplies (maybe some sporting goods too?) to Haiti.  

* Coming up locally:  many many wheelchair ramps are lined up as soon as the snow leaves.  

Thanks everyone!!!

(to donate for the international projects, please donate at https://PostiveRipples.org) 

jim

Spring break sign up!!!

2018-01-16T10:07:00.000-05:00

It is time to sign up for the BonaResponds trip to Houston

It is not too late to sign up for the Spring Break trip to Houston to help with rebuilding after Hurricane Harvey

We will be there from Feb 23-March 3.

How does it work?

Step 1: You buy airline tickets (Cleveland -Houston has been cheap)
Step 2: Pay $50 (non-refundable) to reserve your spot (it will also be used to buy shirts, food, supplies, and tools)

sbu.afford.com/paynow?storeid=1618

(NOTE: if you can not afford it, there are some scholarships available based on need and the number of previous BonaResponds local work days you have done.)

Step 3: Forward your flight info to BonaResponds@gmail.com and JMahar@sbu ASAP. Use Subject line: Houston BR flight Information

Step 4: fill out form at BonaResponds.org (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEv8d4t2MTy_PI8-tb_jX7t13XUYMH9hX1b4TWM5JRS4_TuQ/viewform)

BonaResponds Harvey Trip

docs.google.com

Step 5: look for upcoming meetings and announcements on details of the trip to be coming soon! We will likely have a meeting next Tuesday to answer questions and help with flight booking.

Note: depending on fundraising, we HOPE to be able to reimburse SBU students, Faculty, and Staff some of the airline costs. This will happen AFTER the trip and will be contingent on funding and service in Houston.

Yes, this is open to everyone! A great way to meet up with family and friends you don't get to see all the time!
Food and shelter are provided.
You should have a good pair of work boots.
You can come for part of the time.
You can (as many alumni are doing) get a hotel nearby, but it really is more fun to stay in the church hall.
You will need a sleeping bag.
We will arrange ground transportation. (Pickups will be much more common at the Hobby airport, so please try to fly in there. If you fly into George Bush Intl airport, you should be prepared to wait for a ride--of course Uber is a choice--I was told it costs $70)--our pickup and drop off is free---NOTE: we must have times by Feb 9 for this option).
Most important things to bring? A good attitude and a willingness to make a difference!

It will be the best spring break trip you can make. It will be work, but it will also be fun and you will not only make new friends but make the world a bit better too!

Texas Trip FAQ's

2017-12-20T13:38:00.000-05:00

I shared these on FB. Thought they might be helpful here too:

Book your flights!  

We hope to see many of you there!  We will be working in and around Dickinson Texas (Feb 23-March 3).  

FAQ:

* Yes, you can come for part of the time.  

* Yes, you can bring family and friends

* Yes, you can make a big difference.

* Yes, there will be work. 

* Yes, there is still a need.  Just because it is not on the news does not mean there is still not a need. 

* Yes, you can donate (we are looking to subsidize the cost of the trip for all students if at all possible). Don't want to pay for students, fine :) donate $50 to positiverRpples (PositiveRipples.org and buy 5 sheets of drywall!)

* Yes, we can pick you up at the airport.  Hobby pickups will be regular, at George Bush Airport MUCH more infrequent. 

* Yes, if you prefer, you can arrange an Uber ride. 

* Yes, you can come for only a few days --but the longer the better!

* Yes, if you are there for the entire week, you will have time to relax (the Gulf is about 5 miles from Camp)

* Yes, you can donate supplies?  Home Depot cards are perfect as we will be 4 miles from a HomeDepot.  Don't want to do that?  Buy drywall there and we can arrange pickup/delivery. 

* Yes, I am sure you have a million reasons to not go.  But you only need one reason to come.  You want to help!

* Yes, you will need boots, a sleeping bag, and a good attitude! (other things are helpful too--see website)

* Yes, we are still looking for people to drive vehicles with tools and supplies down and back. 

* We will be working with the Mount Olive Baptist Church in Dickinson but we will be helping people in need regardless of faith, color, or anything else. 

* No, you do not need to be a student.

* No, kids under 16 should not come without special permission. 

* Yes, Food will be provided on site. 

* Yes, it is usually warmer in Texas than in Western NY 

* Yes, you should come! :) 

To come: book tickets and let us know! :) 

THE SOONER THE BETTER! :)  so we know how many tools/cots/showers/etc we need. 

Update on many things :)

2017-11-01T12:44:00.000-04:00

I know, I know. I ask too much. :) sorry. and these have not been vetted by anyone, so here goes....thanks and sorry in advance:

First a few success stories:

Thank you to everyone who helped SIMM out! We raised almost double our goal (with some money still coming in), qualified for the $16,250 match (so about $48,000 raised), and brought many "younger" alumni back into the donor universe (which will make advancement and alumni relations very happy). It was a good project and advancement worked very hard (great job Janet and crew!) THANK YOU!
Pending the dispersal of the funds we (PositiveRipples) transferred last week, we will have Bishop Nelson's Ebola orphans in school!! HUGE success. Thank you to everyone, but Joe (and Pat) Coate deserve a special thank you on that! That area has a LONG ways to go (getting about 50 students through high-school (college?) is a big endeavor, but 3 years in, and they are still going! :) Next there will be more sustainable farming programs to raise money for the kids to attend school next year while also learning a life-skill. (We are largely modeling this on what we already do in Haiti and our newest large garden program in Sierre Leone which is JUST starting but with local variations--for instance we also are planning on planting 1000 rubber trees in Liberia in addition to a garden for food).

THANK YOU! :)

Now, the "if you want to get involved" and other updates:

BonaResponds:

PenPal program: we have started a pen pal program (Largely led by Enactus) that will help tie together people from around the world. (personal commentary-I think too often the world becomes "us" vs "them". The biggest guiding principle at the foundation of BonaResponds is that we are all the same. We just need to get to know "our neighbors". We would love to have you (or your family) or others you know involved. here is a video on how it will work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zg8xiTGIUk&feature=youtu.be

Bonas and Beyond Pen Pal Program Information Video

www.youtube.com

Signup Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeh6fEEcibuuknva0N4-0mOGF8UZ-r2WoupYE9K83rFZeSJUw/viewform?usp=sf_link

Houston spring break trip: this is a definite go! Fly down, fly back. Our scouting trip over fall break went well and I am sure that we can make a big impact. It is of course way off of everyone's radar so I do not see any way to get 200 people (or the money to buy supplies for 200 people working), but I do hope to take 100 or more. Here are the words of a volunteer leader there: "- the lack of media coverage has resulted in a rapid decrease in donations and contributions. People will be rebuilding for the next two years. Your help will help individuals and families get a real jump start on recovery. You are needed more now than ever." We'd love to have you along! there is a signup form at BonaResponds.org or just ask me :)
EASIEST: Thursday as part of the president's inauguration celebrations, we hope to make over 100 WarmSnugglyBlankets. We have multiple rooms reserved from 11:30 to 1:00. We will start in Swan101-103 and go from there. The impact of the blankets is one of the biggest surprises to me. For instance (slightly edited to assure privacy) here is an email I got today: "I just wanted to say that this is a wonderful gift for cancer patients. You may not know, but my daughter is currently on her fifth and final cycle of chemo...at Roswell....These blankets help her as she is always cold when getting chemo...just wanted you to know how great these blankets are and, hopefully, once she is on the road to recovery from her treatment, we will be able to join BonaResponds in helping to make these blankets." Come out and help make the blankets. If nothing else, you can come out and hear me fight back tears as I describe the project. It happens every single time. (FYI we have given out over 1300 of them now).

Hurricane Relief Trip Interest meeting

2017-10-24T16:08:00.001-04:00

This Thursday (October 26, 2017) we will be having an interest meeting for those wishing to help in Texas over spring break. The meeting is at 5:15 in the Walsh Auditorium on the Bonaventure Campus. Come volunteer and change the world!

Fall break trip and MUCH more....are you coming with us for spring break??

2017-09-29T17:11:00.001-04:00

Update on several fronts: 

1. Great talk with All Hands Volunteers!   Always an amazing group.  Will be working with them (and others) in February in Houston area.  (are you coming with us??)   Others include The Jesse Tree, Inc. and the Bread of Life Ministries in Houston. 

2. Booked tickets for a very small scouting/work trip over fall break to Houston.  For this big of trip we decided we needed to have an idea of jobs etc. 

3. Thanks to Yvonne Gehrmann for refilling the WarmSnugglyBlanket display in the SBU Chapel.

4. Please keep Chad (a family friend and WarmSnugglyBlanket recipient) in your prayers.  He is such a great guy and is fighting hard, but the cancer is an awful foe.   What a terrible disease.

5. We had a small hurricane relief trip planning meeting this afternoon, assuming volunteers pay their own way, the cost (tools, lumber, supplies, and ground transport, food, will be about $160-$180 per person.   We need to raise that much (working estimate will be 150-175 people, so about  $32,000.  Which seems pretty daunting right now.   As an aside: flights are looking MUCH better than busses.  

6. If anyone has any great suggestions on how we can help USVI and Puerto Rico we are all ears.  

7. We are going to help with Urban Biosphere - "Olean NY startup project" that will begin in the Portville schools, but we hope grows to much much more locally and in Haiti/Liberia. 

8. Our Pen pal program is still looking for more people!  if you have the time to send a couple emails a month, please fill out https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeh6fEEcibuuknva0N4-0mOGF8UZ-r2WoupYE9K83rFZeSJUw/viewform?usp=sf_link

9. Via PositiveRipples we sent enough money to pay for 13 of the 53 Liberian "Ebola" orphans.  We then had two donors step forward and they are paying for 7 more.  So we are now at 20. 

10.  We have had many requests to "do something" for Puerto Rico or the USVI.  I would love to.  BUT I just do not know what we can do that would help at the present moment. 
 We also had a request for help in Florida, but I think we are spread too thin. 

11. We are going to be looking for people to help tutor (online, in English, math, and Economics--to start.  Working in Haiti, Liberia, and we hope refugees in the Middle East (stay tuned).  

12. This weekend: ramp job (and we are short our most valuable volunteer (Jen) as she had prior commitments, so we do need more hands!   10:45 Saturday, 11:30 Sunday.  Meet at the BR trailer (lower parking lot by baseball field.) 

13. Are you alumni of a past BR or Enactus/SIFE trip?  Plan a reunion trip with us for Spring Break.  (yes you can take a week off work)  

Welcome back!

2017-08-31T23:27:00.003-04:00

The new school year began this week and we welcome our many new volunteers.

Some fast updates:

THIS weekend: a wheelchair ramp on Saturday at 10:45 for a woman who is having major trouble leaving the house. On Sunday at 11:30 we will be painting in Olean for a family whose father is fighting advanced cancer. (Meet at the BR trailer near baseball field both days. Both are great jobs and we would love your help! No skills or experience needs. A good attitude is needed :)
Monday 5:30 in Swan 101 we will have a meeting. Topics include local work days, new pen pal program, books of local children, work in Haiti, and Bonas and Beyond (when Haitians will be coming to SBU (Sept 26-Oct 8).
SAVE THE DATES! Feb 23-March 3: BonaResponds to the Gulf Coast to help with the clean up and recovery from Hurricane Harvey. Alumni? come on! Community members? Come on! Faculty? Come on! Students? Come on!
We are collecting wheelchairs for the people of Texas. We shipped 46 of them today (August 31).
We really need some leaders to help on many of our projects. Open to all. Volunteer and Change the world!

Stay tuned for more updates soon!

Haiti Humanitarian Needs Overview 2017 - Haiti | ReliefWeb

2017-02-13T13:07:00.001-05:00

Haiti Humanitarian Needs Overview 2017 - Haiti | ReliefWeb:

Haiti is still in need of assistance:

"With only 46 per cent of the $139 million Flash Appeal funded for the urgent response until the end of December 2016, hurricane-related needs will remain acute in 2017. Before the hurricane, humanitarian needs throughout the country were already quite significant, notably due to the cholera epidemic, the El-Niño-induced drought, the bi-national migration crisis, and the internally displaced persons (IDPs) following the 2010 earthquake. The hurricane added, and exacerbated existing needs. As a result, it is estimated that 750,000 people will require food assistance and 200,000 farmer households will need agricultural assistance, countrywide in 2017"

'via Blog this'

This Saturday

2017-02-03T13:20:00.001-05:00

From Today's notice Board (Super Bowl Weekend)

This Saturday BonaResponds will be returning to the St. Vincent DePaul Thrift shop in Olean to finish cleaning and painting the main floor's shopping area. Last week's before and after was a huge difference!

Additionally, we will be fixing handrails for an elderly woman in Olean (request came via Olean Police Dept).

Come out and make the world a little better!!!

10:45 by the BonaResponds trailer (lower parking lot by baseball field). We'd love if you could drive! Hint hint :)

No work Sunday as we need some time to work on a. school work and b. some exciting Haitian initiatives.

(Tutoring, penpal, and more!) c. It is Super Bowl Sunday.

thanks everyone!

Next week we will be in West Clarksville and ???

Christmas in Haiti

2016-12-22T10:55:00.002-05:00

From our podcast. I think you will like it.

2016-12-06T16:19:00.000-05:00

BonaResponds Wish List

Instead of buying more "stuff" this Christmas season why not "invest" in the betterment of the world! Our wish list (please pass it on to Santa!):

In Haiti and Liberia:

* $3,000 water well that will help a whole neighborhood for years
* $1,500 a solar electric system for a school in Haiti or Liberia
* $1,000 Schooling for 50 Liberian "Ebola" orphans FOR a year!
* $800 to hire a Haitian teacher for a ten month school year
* $600 to start a small school/community library
* $500 start a garden program in Liberia (this would be big!)
* $400 composting toilet to help prevent spread of Cholera
* $360 for a Christmas present and 3-day "camp" for kids in Liberia.
* $300 tree planting day (250 trees + food/transport for vols)
* $250 two used computers for schools in Haiti
* $240 a scholarship to a HaitiScholarships student
* $200 for a traditional toilet in Haiti (including digging hole and cement)
* $180 notebooks and pencils/pens for 53 Liberian Ebola Orphans
* $160 a water filter that will filter 6000 gallons for a school (less than 3 cents a gallon vs tablets at 25 cents a gallon)
* $150 to fund a soccer program for kids (2 months)
* $120 fixes a roof for people still recovering from Hurricane Matthew
* $110 buys a new/better battery for solar electric system
* $100 a two months of English classes for teachers in Leogane
* $80 cement blocks to build a "toilet" stall for increased privacy
* $50 a microloan to a woman in Les Cayes Haiti (Tout Moun Se Moun)
* $45 a weekly meal for all students at primary school in Leogane
* $40 notebooks and pencils for a class of 25 students
* $30 food and water for volunteers in Les Cayes doing Matthew cleanup.
* $25 a month of internet for a classroom in Haiti
* $20 transport and water for a class field trip to Leogane Library
* $10 two books (books purchased in Haiti) for library.
* $5 for 5 trees in Haiti
* $2 for a Treeangelsfor Haiti booklet on importance of Reforestation
* $1 for Chalk for a day at a school.
($= US dollars)

Start a PositiveRipple! Invest in the future of the world!
Donate at https://PositiveRipples.org