BonaResponds Blog

Building bridges--Literally!

2016-04-21T07:36:00.002-04:00

Our small donation to our group in Haiti is definitely changing the world!

In the wake of a recent flood in the Bino Lapoint area of Leogane Haiti, we initiated a project to help
Haitians help other Haitians. Lamarre and Wesley have been doing great work leading a team of people in cleaning up after the flood and working to reduce additional flooding.

To date 25 volunteers working with members of the community have:

Distributed 75 cleaning kits
helped cleaned in and around several homes
dug a channel (think drainage ditch) to hopefully prevent future flooding
begun cleaning out the second channel to allow the water to flow and not back up causing more flooding.

What still needs to be done:

finish digging the new drainage ditch
clean out existing channel
build three small bridges over the new channel
Install cement floors into homes that currently have dirt floors

Update from Lamarre:

The work would make an impact on more than 100 houses,but that doesn't mean we will repair or restore 100 houses.We could just restore some of them--the most vulnerable.

The work for the canal is also taking longer than we thought. There are two types of canals that need to be made. The one that we are digging along the road and another that has water but which is full of trash. It will need to be cleaned as well to create space and make it free for water to pass when it is raining.

We will also need to make some small bridges on the canals side close to the houses entrance.

These improvements SHOULD reduce future flooding and make the homes safer. There are 100 people (approximately 300 people) living in this area.

Digging channels by hand and pouring cement in a hot climate is exhaustive and often thankless work, so additionally we do feel a need to feed the volunteers and provide water. In a perfect world ,we would also provide BonaResponds shirts and footwear (many are working in flip flops).

We began with a small investment. But we will need to invest upwards of $2000 more to complete this (Roughly the cost of a ramp and a half in the US).

Approximate cost for cement is $30USD per house (we will assume $40 since costs are almost always greater than initial estimates). Cement for the small bridges will run $70 each and some lumber and steel will be needed as well Estimated cost $250 per bridge.

6 Homes * 40 for cement floors $ 240

Food for two weeks of volunteers $500

3 bridges $750

Transportation $60

Tools $200 *

Rudimentary footwear $100

BR Tshirts (30*5) $150

Estimated Total cost $2000 USD

*tools would be saved to used for future projects as well

Is it worth it? We think so! But we want your opinion: Do we continue? Do we invest in the lives of these 300 people? At a cost of less than $7 a person? We vote yes. But please let us know your opinion. Vote now!

If you do want to donate: http://bonaresponds.org/donate.html

Want to change the world? Improve Education!

2016-04-12T16:51:00.001-04:00

Education wins! Better education will lead to better govenment, better technology, better food, and longer life expectancies. WINS all around!

Want more good news? Money donated for scholarships goes to pay teachers in the country and not donations of goods that can ruin markets in those countries. More WINS!

More good news? Better education is sustainable and expanding. Better educated parents teach their children more. Even more WINS!

Here is an example from a recent applicant to the HaitiScholarships program (we partner with HaitiScholarships on many many projects).

In Liberia, for about $40 a year a young child can go to school (remember these are the orphans whose parents have died from Ebola). In Haiti, the costs are a bit higher, but for less than a dollar a day ($200 for primary, $350 for High School, $800 for College)

Don't think if it as a donation (although it is a taxable donation), think of it as an investment in a better world!

Bonas and Beyond

2016-03-31T12:51:00.000-04:00

In addition to the online economics class that we are running, we have started a Facebook page for Bonas and Beyond! We will be sharing educational material that can make a difference in people's lives around the globe. We'd love you to "like" the page and to share it with your friends!

BonaResponds Post Spring Break Update

2016-03-07T09:34:00.001-05:00

* We are back from our spring break trip to Dallas Texas. If you missed out, you missed lots of hard work, but also fun (North Texas Irish Festival, a tour and trip to Fort Worth), good food, and most importantly meeting some great new friends while helping people recover from a disaster. A huge thank you to everyone who helped and went on the trip! Hundreds of pictures available here and here.

* A Thank you to Jim Cochran in Buffalo! Not only did he distribute 30+ @WarmSnugglyblankets, but he also arranged to have them given to those getting chemo at CCS oncology. In one move, Jim solved many of our distribution problems for WSB! (remember, if you know of someone with cancer, let us know and we can send a blanket in your name!) (look for thank-yous for those who have been making blankets in the coming week!)

* As mentioned before the Dallas trip, we aim to help plant 3000 trees in Haiti. Have been in contact with @TreeAngelsforHaiti and Onel in the past week. We will be back in touch on this shortly. Stay tuned.

* Let there be sun! Thanks to Rob Granger, Pierce Steel, and Mike Ellman we now have solar electric (to charge cordless drills etc) and lights in our trailer! This will allow us to see! Improves safety, efficiency, and MAYBE even neatness!

* Our first online #BonasandBeyond program starts this week. It is a 6-week course in economic foundations. It is free. If you have not signed up, please do so! http://goo.gl/forms/WnjZXxi871 we have about 20 people signed up so far. It is set to go live on Tues March 8. So sign up today!

* We are getting the first of the updates from the money we sent to the winners in the #BonasandBeyond program’s presentations for capital to help Haiti. Heard from Djemson that the harvest has started of beans that will be sold to help fund orphanage and school for the 17 children under his care. Also, the Little Garden program is going well! We look forward to hearing from the others soon.

* In response to the movie Poverty.Inc, I was asked about our solar program in Haiti. Yes, we buy the solar units from Haitian suppliers. So we are helping in a way that does not hurt their economy. If we can raise $1500 by International Service Day (April 9-10) we will be able to install solar electric in another school!

* Wesley is starting a BonaResponds program at his school in Leogane Haiti. I am THRILLED by this. It will work like this (I think): once a month school children will work (on a Saturday) on a project that makes Haiti better. We will be partially funding it and providing lunch for the volunteers. It is a great win:win:win program. The students learn the importance of giving back and they learn new skills. Those that are helped are made better off. And the local Haitian economy is helped by the purchase of food etc for the program.

* Onel is looking to buy/make BonaResponds t-shirts in Haiti for a large tree planting day there. Stay tuned. Not sure how much we can economically justify but we will be doing something for the volunteers there.

* Soccer in Les Cayes is starting up again this month after a break. Look for pictures soon from Rochelin. We are still looking to buy a lawnmower in Haiti for them. Proving to be 1000 times more difficult than I expected.

* On March 19 we are working with CYC on a local wheelchair ramp. It should go VERY fast with the two groups working together. On March 13 we will be prepping for it. Plan on coming out to help on both days! (Saturday we are off this weekend due to Open house on campus and interviewing Business Dean Candidates).

* Remember, April 9-10 is International Service Weekend. PLAN AN EVENT in your country, city, neighborhood. http://bonaresponds.org/isd.html

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE DAY

2016-02-02T09:57:00.001-05:00

BonaResponds is sponsoring an International Service Weekend this year which will take place Saturday April 9th and Sunday April 10th. A whole weekend of good deeds and volunteering! International Service Weekend is when we ask people locally and around the world to go make the world a better place AND to share what they did.

Help those who need the help (we are all in need of help in some way), to show that problems are not insurmountable (together we can solve them), to remind everyone that we all have some skills that can be used to help others, and most importantly, to have fun.

Here are some examples of easy ways you can participate in International Service Weekend:

Clean up a local park
Read to students in a local school/community center
Pick up trash along a trail
Volunteer at or Donate to a food pantry
Help clean up an elderly neighbor’s yard
Visit someone in a nursing home
Help someone you know who needs a helping hand
Invite a lonely neighbor over for dinner
Etc., etc.

It is really that simple. Do a good deed and share it!

You can participate alone or with any sized group. We are open to anyone and willing to work with everyone. So go get involved; volunteer and change the world!

Feel free to sign up or read more information about this event on our webpage: http://bonaresponds.org/isd.html Watch for updates via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our website: www.bonaresponds.org. Please tag us using #BonaReponds on your social media updates, reflections, photos, etc. or email us at BonaResponds@gmail.com. Thank You!!!

January 2016 update

2016-01-25T10:33:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone!

A fast update on many BonaResponds things:

Thank you to our donors who are investing in a better world! December was our best month of fundraising ever! It is you who give us the ability to help so many. Without you, BonaResponds is just a good idea. Without you, many people suffer. Without you, there are fewer wheelchair ramps, fewer people in schools in Haiti, fewer trees, and much more. Our, indeed my, promise to you is that we will continue to use the money in a manner that will maximize the long-run good that we can achieve!
February 17, 2016 at 7pm in The Dresser Auditorium of the Murphy Building we will be co-sponsoring with Enactus and the Pacioli Scholar program a viewing of Poverty Inc. It is an important video that questions how charity is handled. The short version is that handouts are not the best and that good intentions are not enough. Watch the trailer and plan on coming. Free tickets are available here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/poverty-inc-st-bonaventure-university-tickets-20910800768
International Service Weekend is April 9-10! No matter where you live, plan on being involved. Start planning now! Clean up a local park, help your elderly neighbor to the grocery store, organize a work day in your town/country! Big or small together we can make a huge difference! SIgn ups and more information will be available soon! We want to capture 24 hours of good deeds and good work around the world! Too often all we see is the bad news!
Our local job list is really long (too long). The combination of being underpriced and a lack of volunteers really led to a backlog. We can not do ramps in this weather, but are prebuilding sections and will hit the ground running ASAP. In the interim, we do have work days planned for every weekend.
We still have approximately 40 blankets that need labels sewn on. If anyone would like to help in this area, please let us know. We packed 24 blankets this weekend for Roswell and the Kevin Guest House in Buffalo. I am often asked how someone could help in this area (interestingly we get many more requests to help with Blankets than with Trails/Ramps/homes/Haiti etc) Find places (doctors offices, chemo centers, or even churches) that we can put up “boxes” of blankets (wrapped in plastic) so that we do not mail out each separately. Also agree to keep them full (we will get you the blankets).
Jim’s Haiti trip over Christmas break was canceled due to violence stemming from their elections, but our work has picked up speed again there. Last week we got the first of the Reforestation booklets from our good friends at Tree Angels for Haiti. Very exciting to see the booklets actually produced. The next step is to get them distributed and work with them (and others across Haiti) to not only plant more trees but to make the program sustainable.
The first round of payments out of the #BonasandBeyond program should be finished this week. We had a long wait for the funds from SIMM. But in total $4000 payments will be disbursed. This is the money we and Enactus won from the Online voting contest that BonaSIMM used to give away their profits. (good thing we got them then given the way the stock market has been doing since!) If you remember, these recipients in Haiti presented on campus on how they could make Haiti better. Winners were a Gardening program in Gonaives, a “green charcoal” program in Leogane, a micro-loan program in Gonaives, a school program and a science kit program in Port au Prince, and partial funding for a water program in Cap Haitien.
We are still trying to buy a lawnmower in Haiti for the soccer program Rochelin runs in Les Cayes. I had no idea buying a lawnmower would prove so difficult. Have had many people looking for one for months.
Business is needed in Haiti. For that reason, Positive Ripples has been formed. It is not officially part of BonaResponds but its own newly formed not-for-profit that will better enable us to make small investments in businesses. For instance the first loan we are trying to make is to Normil in Leogane. He has to shut down his internet cafe for 10 hours a week when he goes to get his batteries charged. We are going to given him a 2 year loan to enable solar electric to power some of his computers. Similarly we will be working with a Haitian group (via Emmanuel our long time partner) in Les Cayes to fund women their with smaller micro loans (our initial investment will be $1000 and students here will be helping with consulting, social media, and teaching Haitians how to create their own websites).
Two different groups have asked to host volunteer camps on campus over the summer. This is very difficult as students and faculty are largely gone. If you have interest in being a leader for a week this summer (non paid) please let us know.
We hope to announce another Bonas and Beyond program on campus for this coming September-October.
The Enactus trip I made to the Bahamas (non BonaResponds trip) has me convinced that there are many many opportunities to work with Enactus on projects near and far. Here is a podcast of my talk with student leaders after the trip: https://media.zencast.fm/st-bonaventure-school-of-business
Last and my no means least....upcoming trips. I had hoped to announce a major 10th year reunion trip this year, but I do not think it will happen. We may go to New Orleans (spoke yesterday with Habitat that has jobs there), but getting a large number of alumni there MAY be difficult. So, mark down the first week in March and stay tuned. We will try to go somewhere. Also get your passport! POSSIBLE trip after graduation: Jamaica or Costa Rica. POSSIBLE--cost will be about $1000 each. Alternatively, some (a small number) could join me for a likely NON approved trip to Haiti.

Thanks again everyone!

jim

Key dates:

Wed. Feb 17: Poverty Inc viewing on campus

First week of March: Spring Break Trip

April 9-10: International Service Weekend!

Some good news from Haiti and Liberia!

2015-10-30T12:17:00.000-04:00

From our FB wall:

Yesterday we got the great news on the composting toilets being installed in Lascahobas Haiti. That will play a great role in reducing disease and more (see the picture I added to comments below). Just thrilled by it! Great job Occeant Jean and Cherline Noel Oc!!!

In Cherline's words: we will teach children how to make compost........ they will help themselves in the future

It will have a GREAT IMPACT IN CANNOT 'S COMMUNITY
COMPOST CAN CHANGE OUR CHILDREN LIFE
CHILDREN IN CANNOT WILL BE ABLE TO BENEFIt:
1. DIGNIFIED SANITATION
2. TRANSFORM WASTE
3. GROWING AGRICULTURE

Then jumping over to Liberia, Bishop Nelson Sampson Boegbah sent his great news! The solar unit we purchased for their orphanage is now up and running!

BonaResponds would LOVE to get a few more of these projects off the ground and can with your help! Some of this will happen once the Bona Simm give away of $6,000 occurs n November 13 (we are currently in second place) and the money ($2000 for 2nd place) we get will be devoted to projects presented during ‪#‎BonasandBeyond‬.

But we also want to help some of the groups and schools who could not come to SBU earlier this month.

Rough costs (they vary):

1. Cost of a large solar electric system $3000USD
2. Cost of smaller solar electric system $1000-$1500
3. Cost of a three stall composting toilet $450
4. Cost of a student's partial scholarship in Haiti $200 per year
5. Cost of shipping a barrel of supplies to Haiti $140
6. Cost of planting 50 trees to combat deforestation $50
7. Cost of 2 soccer balls $25
8. Cost of an irrigation kit that last 7 years and a few packages of seeds $15

Let's make there be many more Good news days in the future! You can donate at http://BonaResponds.org as well as at @Haitischolarships.org(for #4)

Bona and Beyond day 1

2015-09-25T07:54:00.000-04:00

Well yesterday was an adventure.  Two missed flights in Atlanta, one missed flight in Port au Prince, bags that went to Denver and another that was seemingly lost to a seat mate made for an "interesting" day.   And by interesting you can use words like stressful as well as enlightening, and eye-opening.

Travel with no cell phones, in a foreign land, can be rather stressful (at least for those of us picking up the travelers!).  NY time and speed is a little different than #Haiti time :) We learned the difference repeatedly yesterday, but by the end things were going well.

A HUGE HUGE thank you to everyone who stepped in and ran the Welcome Program as I was relegated to waiting (and hoping the wait was not in vain!) for the late arrivals.  IT SIMPLY COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT YOU!  (I will assuredly miss some, but here are a few:  Jen, Jovani, Diana, Carol, Naudia, Reed, Logan, and of course Todd for driving).  Simply can not thank you enough.  MESI!

I have much more to write, but out of time for now.  Here is the audio from last night's presentation where everyone introduced themselves. 

http://media.zencast.fm/bonas-and-beyond/3.m4a

my intro (I was trying to whisper as afraid to wake others (not yet used to dorm life!)

http://media.zencast.fm/bonas-and-beyond/2.mp3

On tap:  Today: 

9:45 campus tour 

11:30 in Swan: Official SBU WELCOME.  Come on out!

1:00 Special Olympic discussion (How we can help expand Special Olympics in Haiti)

2:00 Boating trip (Closed to Public for lack of space)

9:00 "All Hands" meeting. 

WEEKEND: COME VOLUNTEER AND MEET EVERYONE!  

Bonas and Beyond! It's about to get real!

2015-09-22T10:47:00.001-04:00

This is going to be a huge event for BoanResponds and the Haitians who are coming. As a learning and cultural exchange event, it is definitely the biggest thing we have attempted. (it dwarfs food packing events in scope, work, and impact).

While we did not get everyone here due to VISA issues (will try earlier next year), we have a good group of 14(maybe 13--just heard today one may not be coming) Haitians who will be coming to SBU for almost 3 weeks.

The program/schedule is below. As you will see, the idea is to learn while doing. And we will be doing a great deal! Indeed, sleep is one thing we may not have much of!

We have classes (economics, finance, Environmental Science, Marketing, leadership, and political science), Seminars (Educational goals, science packs (TBD), International Law, Childhood nutrition, irrigation usage, water filters, a talk on Francis, and a few others WE HOPE), Fun trips (Niagara Falls, Allegany State Park, Chautauqua Lake), learning trips (Olean Wholesale, Park and Shop, Napoleon Engineering, SolePoxy, and Canticle Farms),BonaResponds work days (Bonagany Bonagany, Warming House, a car wash for HaitiScholarships, a wheelchair ramp, painting, trail work at minimum), and fun/fitness activities (Soccer, Yoga, hiking). Oh and if the weather allows, we hope to view the lunar eclipse too smile emoticon

In any downtime, we hope to be picking up some Creole too! (You will soon start to see flyers around campus with come Creole words that may be useful). Please make our friends feel welcome and say hi!

You can get involved and come to most of the activities as you can (trips are problematic as we still need drivers--so get approval before planning on jumping in the van for Niagara Falls). And if anyone (or any group) wants to help pay for a dinner etc, we'd love to do so! If nothing else you should plan on coming to the welcomes (7:00 pm on Thursday, 11:30 on Friday, the event at the Olean Public Library, and the October 8th "party and wrap up" in Francis Hall's San Damiano room. (but please come to other events too!)

Still also trying to get some school visits scheduled and would love a solar power seminar, but they are not definite yet.

Two issues (the main one is a lack of drivers) and also we have fewer people than we had expected, so breaking up to go to various schools is more of a problem. But we do hope to get to some local schools.

A huge thank you to the SBU Events planning, Housing, and all of the volunteers who have agreed to teach, host, and lead the students and overall make this great event possible.

Much of the material will be available online for those who could not get VISAs as well as the many who could not afford to come, so we also need people to record and video events.

https://bonasandbeyond2015.sched.org/

From FB.

Bonas and Beyond schedule is taking shape!

2015-09-09T09:24:00.000-04:00

Our schedule for Bonas and Beyond is taking shape! Really filling up. Going to be a busy 3 weeks! Things you definitely want to come out for:

Thursday Sept 24, 7pm Welcome to WNY! An overview and introduction to everything that is to come and a quick immersion into Haiti. Swan (tentative location)

Friday Sept 25, 11:30 Bonaventure Welcome! (somewhat a repeat of the 24th, but with official welcomes from School of Business Dean Carol Fischer and SBU President Sister Margaret Carney) Free Pizza. Swan.

Wednesday Sept 30, 7pm Olean Public Library: A talk on Haiti and how we can help.

Thursday Oct 8 Presentations on Haiti and discussion of next steps (MAYBE with a dinner) Stay tuned for times and places.

We also have many classes (from Accounting to Environmental Science, Political Science to Legal Environment and even finance :) )

Weekends will largely be BonaResponds workdays. We also have trips planned to Chautauqua Lake, Niagara Falls, Allegany State Park (we hope), the Olean Park and Shop, Olean Wholesale Group, Canticle Farms, and Napolean Engineering. (Have other ideas? Let us know in comments).

Many other tentatives but getting everything in is proving to be difficult.

1. We still really need drivers! for all times. BIGGEST NEED!
2. We would love some people groups to sponsor dinners. They do not need to be fancy. Potlucks, BBQ, or if you want let the Haitians experience a US restaurant!
3. We are trying to get people to schools to speak, but we lost a driver during the day so it is proving more difficult.
4. Also we are looking for "adults" to RA for a night or two and be available if any problems arise (stay in dorms).
5. We hope to run a car wash fund raiser for HaitiScholarships when they are here (ideally Sept 26th---REALLY NEED SOMEONE to take ownership of it!)
6. We also want to get local soccer teams involved to have a a collection of used soccer equipment for programs in Haiti. (if you know of anyone who plays soccer--or played soccer and might have some old equipment laying around, let us know!)

Today is the second big day for interviews with the Ambassade des États-Unis, Port-au-Prince (Haïti) . We have written letters etc and we really hope that all participants are given an OK to come to campus!

Bonas and Beyond Press release from SBU :)

2015-09-02T12:34:00.003-04:00

St. Bonaventure to host 20 Haitian

students this fall; volunteers needed

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y., Sept. 2, 2015 — St. Bonaventure University will be hosting 20 students from Haiti over three weeks this fall for cultural and educational exchange.

Volunteers from the campus and community are being sought to serve as drivers, campus hosts, tour guides and translators. Donors are also being sought to pay for a meal on campus or at a local restaurant, or for local church groups or community organizations to host a potluck supper.

Jim Mahar, associate professor of finance and founder of the student relief group BonaResponds, is coordinating the program, called “Bona’s and Beyond: Haiti.”

People interested in helping can contact Mahar at BonaResponds@gmail.com or by calling him at 585-376-0231.

“This will be the kickoff of ‘Bona’s and Beyond,’” Mahar said. “The first step will be a series of classes and seminars when the Haitians are here.” The classes will include a range of business disciplines, as well as environmental science, computer science, political science and leadership as well as seminars on composting toilets, solar power, and other topics that will have an immediate impact in Haiti.

This is more than just a one-way classroom experience, he said. Haitian students will also be presenting seminars about their own work, from their experiences working in orphanages and schools to their efforts in reforestation and gardening.

“We really want to stress it is a cultural exchange. This is not just us teaching them, it is a two-way cultural exchange that fits perfectly with our Franciscan heritage and mission of respect,” said Dr. Carol Fischer, dean of the School of Business.

“It is a learning exchange that will also take place outside of the classroom. Haitian participants will go to local businesses and farms, tourist sites, and museums,” she said. “‘Bona’s and Beyond’ will also be making presentations at local schools and to community groups.”

St. Bonaventure student groups are active in many countries.

“BonaResponds works in Liberia and Haiti, Embrace it Africa works in Uganda, and ENACTUS has a long-running business and education program in the Bahamas,” said Dr. Todd Palmer, associate professor of management and adviser for ENACTUS. “What we want to do is to use these ties to bring our model of two-way learning and cultural exchange to more people.”

After the program this semester with Haitian students, Mahar said, “We will be launching an online, not-for-credit learning program to help educate people while also making friends and associates from around the globe.”

“This will be a great way for Bonaventure students to develop a better understanding of the issues facing people in developing nations and also to drive home that Olean is not in the middle of nowhere, but it is the center of everywhere,” he said.

The classes will be taught on a volunteer basis by professors, students, and experts from the Bonaventure community. The classes will be in English and available online for free with a November start date expected.

Haitian students participating are responsible for the costs of travel to and from Western New York, but funding from the Pacioli Scholars program, SBU School of Business and BonaResponds will finance the program when they’re here.

______________

About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, we believe in the goodness of every person and in the ability of every person to do extraordinary things. St. Bonaventure University cultivates graduates who are confident and creative communicators, collaborative leaders and team members, and innovative problem solvers who are respectful of themselves, others, and the diverse world around them. Named the #3 best college value in the North by U.S. News and World Report, we are establishing pathways to internships, graduate schools and careers in the context of our renowned liberal arts tradition. Our students are becoming extraordinary.

A huge thank you to Tom Missel for this!!

Late August Update

2015-08-27T17:37:00.002-04:00

Update on many fronts:

BUSY day(s)! As in TIME OUT please! :)

1. We will need any leaders (basically if you have volunteered with us before, we need you Saturday from 9:30 to 12:30 (can stay longer if you want :) Much work! We have 40 volunteers for 2 hours (actually about an hour of work). Meeting in MURPHY Aud.

2. Bonas And Beyond may kill me, but it will be a great way to go out! Scheduling is a chore! So many awesome things going on! Wow. Confirmed a talk at the Olean Public Library at 6:30 (POSSIBLY 7:00) PM on Wed. Sept 30. (Plan on being in Swan on SBU campus at

3. Thank you to those who donated the 8 boxes of books that awaited me on my return from Colorado!

4. Thank you to Carol W and her friends and family in Buffalo for making WarmSnugglyBlankets! Also to Mrs. Martin in Olean for doing the same to be donated to The Pink Pumpkin Project. Next on that front is to get some people to take over the logistics of delivery and shipping. I am spread too thin.

5. Thank you to Pearce Steel and Rob Granger for donating a solar electric hook up for our trailer. It will allow us to have lights and charge our cordless batteries while working in and around the trailer (Old semi-truck body).

6. Podcast interview with Bishop Nelson and Charles from Liberia went well. Everything in Liberia is more expensive and we do need to figure out a better way to help them. Shipping to Liberia long term is simply out of the question on cost ($388 per 100 pounds). We will do the first shipment as promised, but in the future I think sending money is more economical.

7. We have had VERY few calls for our 10th year what BonaResponds means to me which leaves me to assume that either we don't mean much you many people or I have failed to get the message out enough. So PLEASE CALL!! whether you volunteer with us or were helped by us or just want to tell us how I mess up, please call 1-800-606-0697 and when prompted, enter your Invitation Number: 15425. We will then combine them into a video/presentation for sharing!

8. I am working on a 10th Year Anniversary of Katrina post, but not done with it yet. I highly recommend you look back on our blog. Also here is an interview I did with local TV yesterday on the anniversary: http://www.twcnews.com/nys/jamestown/news/2015/08/26/local-organizations-reflect-on-hurricane-katrina-response-10-years-later.html?cid=twitter_TWCNewsJtown

9. VERY excited be working with Sr. Paula (phys ed) and Steve B (Women's soccer), Neil (SBU grad and Special Olympics of NY President and CEO, and Bony in Port Au Prince to help bring Special Olympics to more people in Haiti. I think Bony's email today summed it up perfectly why I am so excited to be helping:

"I really thank you for your help after the earthquake, and I appreciate your vision to make this world a better place and we share this common vision cause this is what Special Olympics Haiti and the Special Olympics Movement is throughout the world. Our program is not only sport, as [some] people think. Special Olympics is based on community building and our focus is to develop the capacity and talent of those that are considered the most vulnerable of this country. We are a movement that uses sport as a vehicle to transform the life of our all societies because the only way to build strong development is to create integration of all human being in the social life and activities and is to create an inclusive society where everyone is counted and is given the opportunity to express themselves. Acceptance is one of our values. If we cannot create acceptance we won’t be able to build a better and inclusive world."

10. REMEMBER: we need volunteers. Sat 9:30, Sunday 11:30 (we will be meeting at the trailer on Sunday). Trail work Saturday, ramps/steps on Sunday (I think--been so busy I have not confirmed with owners, but one way or the other, we have way too long of list of jobs waiting our help.)

thanks everyone!---Jim

BR Newsletter (August)

2015-08-10T22:13:00.001-04:00

Hi Everyone,

Going to try and get the newsletter a bit more active this coming school year so figured we would start today!

1. Things are going well. Been very busy this summer with ramps, donations, etc. But doing well! Trip to Oklahoma back in June seems so long ago.

2. NEW PROGRAM! Bonas and Beyond! Big plans for fall

Probably the biggest thing we have planned is 20 Haitian Students coming to SBU for Bonas and Beyond! A series of classes, seminars, and trips. It is open to all and is going to be excellent! Get involved and plan on attending! Kickoff is Sept 24 and it runs through Oct. 12th.
http://bonaresponds.blogspot.com/2015/07/bonas-and-beyond-haitians-coming-to.html

3. Hard to believe it has been ten years since Hurricane Katrina. It seems both like yesterday and a 100 years ago. BR has grown and prospered in so many ways. From work locally, to 17 states, to Haiti, Liberia, and the Philippines. All centered on a simple motto: volunteer and change the world! We'd love to know what BonaResponds means to you. Whether you volunteered with us, were helped by us, or just as an active spectator on what we have done. You can email us at BonaResponds@gmail.com with a short write-up (and photos!) or call and tell your story (you have 30 minutes). It is very easy: Call
1-800-606-0697 and when prompted, enter your Invitation Number: 15425. We will then combine them into a video/presentation for sharing!

http://bonaresponds.blogspot.com/2015/08/from-our-fb-wall-t-this-month-marks.html

4. New and On-Going Collections:

A. NEW! Working with a job training program in Leogane Haiti, so we would love to send new or used tools. Hammers, tape measures, etc.
B. School supplies! Always much demand for these supplies (new or used) Pencils, pens, crayons, notebooks, calculators, etc.
C. Gardening tools (gloves, small shovels, clippers, etc).
D. Books (some will stay in the US, some to Haiti)--local and to some groups in Oklahoma. ANY book in French or Creole gets extra thank yous!
E. Shoes--Haiti and Liberia. (again some may stay in the US depending on needs)
F. Soccer equipment --We supply several groups across Haiti (great program--here is a video we had made: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEH3Gj8BU_8)

The most recent shipment arrived. Here is what Djemson had to say from Gonaives Haiti:

"Please find some pictures of the kids with the garden materials, books, bag, balls etc! I also attached please find some pictures of the children using the garden tools by planting the seeds that you sent!

A big thank you to BonaResponds, also a big thank you to you Jim for all your supports! I really appreciate that and I really miss words to thank you for everything!

On behalf of all our 17 children, We say a big thank you to you!
With gratitude,

Djemson Jeudy"

5. We are Launching a "Work with BonaResponds" program where local teams, schools, and church groups can schedule a day a month to volunteer with us!

6. Looking for donations for solar power and composting toilets in Haiti and Liberia. (Solar is about $1500 for most schools) Also Bishop Nelson would LOVE some money for blankets for the 118 orphans they are caring for in post-Ebola Liberia.

7. Have you listened to our podcast? It is a series of interviews and tlaks that allow you to relive great BonaResponds moments as well as learn what is happening with us! Subscribe at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bonaresponds/id1013529268?mt=2&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
or listen individually at https://soundcloud.com/jim-mahar-1

Ok, that is the VERY fast update. Really hope many of you take the time to call in a "what BonaResponds means to me". Remember call Call 1-800-606-0697 and when prompted, enter your Invitation Number: 15425.

THANKS EVERYONE!!

Jim
(and the whole BR team!)

PS we are ALWAYS looking for volunteers. Come Volunteer and Change the World. We work ALMOSt every Saturday & Sunday

Bonas and Beyond: Haitians coming to campus

2015-07-31T13:35:00.000-04:00

St. Bonaventure University Logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I am super super excited to announce the Bonas and Beyond program!

This fall approximately 20 Haitian students will be coming to St. Bonaventure to participate in over 2 weeks of classes and cultural exchange. It will be a great way for the Haitians to learn about America and for members of the Bonaventure community (including local residents) to learn about Haiti.

It is going to be GREAT!

Bonas and Beyond Pamphlet

How will it work?

Haitian students will take part in a series of classes and seminars on campus and will make trips to experience local businesses, farms, and regional tourist attractions. In addition to the organized educational activities, the Haitian students will be immersed in the US culture daily. They will also have the opportunity to share lessons with their hosts on Haitian Creole, history, culture, and the Haitian economy.

After the conference, We will also be launching an online- not for credit learning program to help educate people while also making friends and associates from around the globe.

Classes will be taught on a volunteer basis by professors, students, and experts from the Bonaventure community. The classes will be in English and available online for free

What will they do?

Although visiting the US is a dream for many Haitian students, we recognize that it is a massive investment for them. It is our goal, therefore, to keep the students very active during their stay so that they can get the most out of this cultural exchange. Planned activities include:

Classes
(1 hour each)

Seminars

(1-2 hours each)

Trips

(tentative; not yet approved)

Accounting

Economics*

Finance*

Marketing

Environmental Science

Computers and leadership

*These will meet Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Note: Economics and Finance may be combined

Sanitation

Water

Irrigation Kits and Gardening

Solar Energy

Teaching (Standards)

Teaching (Practical Tips)

Project Management

St. Francis Week: We Are All One

NGO Management

Job Readiness and US College Preparation

Political Science

Physical Education

Yoga

Niagara Falls

State Park
(Allegany, most likely)

Olean Wholesale Group

Olean General Hospital

Canticle Farms

Large Dairy Farm

Local Business -TBD

Police/Municipal Building

Restaurant - TBD

Mount Irenaeus

How can you get involved?

Host a meal (or eat out with them at a local restaurant)

Sponsor a student (food alone will cost over $200 during their stay)

Allow them to present to your class or group on Haiti

Attend presentations on campus

Attend a meal on campus with the students (BBQ or wrap up meal)

Be a community host (assisting with logistics and tours)

Provide transportation to off-site activities

Donate school supplies for the students to take home

Donate soccer equipment to be shipped to Haiti

Other details:

The Haitian students will be responsible for their own transportation to and from the Buffalo International Airport. From there we will pick them up, drive them to campus, and host them in an on-campus dorm. We will also provide their daily meals, through the dining hall and off-site accommodations (including local church groups, picnics, a BBQ, etc).

Approximately 25% of the students will speak English fluently. If you know of a Haitian Creole speaker who would be willing to volunteer to be a translator, please let us know.

Transportation will be a challenge. Please let us know if you would be willing to drive.

The students will be attending men’s and women’s soccer games, watching a MNF game, etc. Participating in tailgate events would be a great cultural experience for them.

Bonagany and Francis Week will both take place during their stay.

Depending on the budget, students would ideally be provided with “goodie” bag, as well.

A pamphlet is available here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YrwPGXlc9DrrFlSLnzfcgpf2x30U3IEzVh0jy89-8GE/pub

5 years ago...a look back to a NON BonaResponds trip and why it is still relevant

2015-05-19T11:39:00.002-04:00

Physical Location map Haiti with departements, Equirectangular projection, N/S stretching 105 %. Geographic limits of the map: N: 20.2° N S: 17.9° N W: 74.6° E O: 71.5° E (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is from Jim's Facebook page, but many of you are not friends, so we will share here too:

5 years ago I made my first trip to Haiti and arrived on Flag Day. This year Wesley a good friend of mine from Leogane shared pictures of the day there.

5 years ago, parades, earthquake damaged roads, and traffic made it a 7 hour trip from Port au Prince to Leogane (usually about 90 min). The 7-hour drive (and I use that term loosely) showed me enough of Haiti that by the time we arrived at camp (after lights out) I knew for certain that the Haitian journey for both BonaResponds and me had just begun.

So much has changed since that trip both good and bad. People have come and gone, my mom (my largest supporter) died, @BonaResponds has grown in many ways while struggling to replace its great leaders who were lost to graduation, and so much more. But many of the friendships forged on that first trip are still rock solid.

English: Overflight of Leogane, Haiti following the 2010 earthquake. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We worked with All Hands Volunteers in Leogane. In my goodbye talk on that first trip I remember saying that the work in Haiti was far from over and that the long run work needed would last decades. From infrastructure and basic needs to schools and education, there remains much to do. Fortunately many Haitians are taking the lead this time and doing incredible work. I have been exceedingly fortunate to be able to meet (and work alongside) many of these modern day nation builders. I encourage you all to get involved and help raise the standard of living for all.

There are so many things that we could be doing to support the work of our Haitian friends if we had more involvement: a car wash fundraiser to fund more partial scholarships through HaitiScholarships, solar for schools and businesses through PositiveRipples, funding more gardens through Bona Responds, or making donations to any of the many groups we have worked with.

English: Satellite image showing deforestation in Haiti. This image depicts the border between Haiti (left) and the Dominican Republic (right). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Their success is amazing. From garden projects, to wells, composting toilets Haitians are doing the necessary work. Groups we have worked with (and helped fund) planted well over 2000 trees in the last month alone to reduce deforestation. We have now shipped nearly 130 pallets of school supplies (and medical supplies) to groups and schools on the ground in Haiti (with the next shipment going out Saturday), and via our spinoff HaitiScholarships) have given partial scholarships for scores of students to attend school.

But (and there is always a but), the work is daunting. So many people do not have access to clean water, electricity, or a good education. We can make a dent in this.

A trick in behavioral finance/economics (a class I teach) is to publically make the statement which then becomes a binding constraint. It is paradoxical from a rational perspective as you are giving up flexibility, but it works (see Stickk.com), but it works. So let me publically state that my goal is to have at least 4 more scholarship winners in Les Cayes, 6 more in Leogane, as well as two solar electric systems installed by the time schools start in Fall. (and for the first time, some of these new scholarships will be set aside for female students to increase their opportunities).

To conclude, I want to wish all of Haiti a belated happy flag day and ask everyone to get involved and to help make the world (and in particular Haiti) a better place!

(long list of names of people and organizations deleted)

Finally, please let me address the ubiquitous "But there are poor people here" comment that is bound to come. "YES YES YES" there are many poor people everywhere and I encourage you to work at home as well. BonaResponds does local work almost every week of the year. Unfortunately, I have been on way too many BonaResponds local work days with no volunteers to believe that this type of comment is anything more than chafe to distract from the real issue: there are too many poor people in the world. Too many who are not given the same opportunities as others. We are all one human race. We live in on the same planet. We did not choose where (or when) to be born. As those of us who won the "birth lottery" we owe it to everyone to help raise their standard of living whether they live in the USA, Haiti, or anywhere else.

Don't forget Haiti! THANK YOU everyone on this list and the many others. Just thinking back to each of you has given me more hope and encouragement! We can do this. We can (and will) make things better! I hope many of you agree! We'd loev to have you involved!!

Collections for Haiti, Liberia, and the US

2015-04-07T11:50:00.002-04:00

Our next shipment is being readied!

Items will mainly be going to Haiti for schools. soccer, and garden programs. However, we will also be shipping some items to the CYC-Liberia group and their orphanage there. We will also be giving books (pre K- 12th grade) to local school children in NY and PA.

We will be packing supplies for Haiti and Liberia this Saturday.

Please drop off new or lightly used soccer equipment (balls, shoes, whistles, etc), school supplies (paper, pens, pencils, calculators, backpacks), small gardening tools/work gloves, toys, or children's books to 104B in Swan or bring them to the lower parking lot (by the BonaResponds Trailer this Saturday between 10:35 and 11:15. (earlier is better as we will be able to sort and assign the donations to various groups.

Also we'd still love someone to sponsor shipping of a barrel (we fill each barrel with about $1000 of value--it costs us about $120 to ship) or to sponsor the water for the soccer practices ($30 a month) or to pay for a student scholarship (remember the last count was 23/60 in school, we want it up to 100%) at $20 a month (via HaitiScholarships)

Soccer programs in Haiti

2015-04-04T12:20:00.001-04:00

We are working with several soccer programs in Haiti...we will also be sending some soccer balls to Liberia and are looking for programs in need in the US.

Here is a video we had made in Les Cayes:

How can you help?

First learn about our programs, then collect soccer equipment (new or used) or make a donation :)

Rochelin is a good friend from Les Cayes Haiti. He send pictures almost every Saturday Morning of the soccer practice there. Thank you Rochelin not only for coaching and helping so much with the soccer program, but also for your work with trees and agriculture in Haiti. As I have told you, you are truly a #rolemodelhero!

Here are some pictures:

But this post is not about Rochelin per se, it is about the children in the soccer program.

First the good news! It is awesome that they now have a soccer program--both male and female teams. This gives the children (now over 70 strong) something to hope for, something to do to stay off the streets, and some order in what can be a chaotic world. It teaches teamwork, exercise, and discipline. It is a start. It is a great start!

But too many of the players can not afford shoes. The program (Soccer for Peace) can can barely afford water for the players. Indeed they have had to shut down before for lack of funds for several years.

Only about 1/3 of the children in this program are currently in school. Working with HaitiScholarships we are trying to raise that number.

You can help. Donate money for their water. Donate used (or new!) soccer equipment (even sneakers and running shoes!) for their teams. Donate to HaitiScholarships for their schooling. Or just share this message. Maybe it will reach a soccer club, or a person who wants to sponsor a child, or pay for water for their practices.

We can do this. It is a small step to make Haiti (and the world a better place) but the longest journey begins with a step.

Donations can be made:

* Soccer (or school) equipment: 104B Swan Business Center St. Bonaventure NY 14778
* Monetary donations can be made viahttp://BonaResponds.org/
* Money for scholarships can be made via http://HaitiScholarships.org/

Equipment will also be going to programs in Leogane, Gonaives, and elsewhere in Haiti.

The Bishop of Jacmel Haiti on the importance of educatuon and how you can help

2015-03-20T10:02:00.004-04:00

Today we are sharing with you the words of the Catholic Bishop Launay Saturne of Jacmel:

"Without education we will remain in the current situation until the end of time.
Haiti's schools are a far cry from those of neighboring Dominican Republic, let alone those of more developed countries: Textbooks and basic supplies are hard to come by; few teachers have more than a ninth-grade education; buildings are in need of repair; equipment is virtually nil." (from http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1501166.htm)

Through donated school supplies (and in few cases more direct support) BonaResponds helps support education throughout Haiti. And of course we work hand in hand with @HaitiScholarships on a daily basis (if you want to see your money make an impact, make a donation to Haitischolarships and just watch! WOW! )

But as Bishop Launay suggests, the need is still very great and we are all called to increase our efforts to make a greater impact.

The good news is that we can do this. It is a winnable battle, but only with your help.

There is no single magic bullet. There is no single Lone Ranger that can change things. But together, with many strands, we can.

* Late last night we sent about $230 to our volunteers in Leogane to help a school with a fence and their garden program to help both teach (and feed) their students.

* This Sunday night we will have a Haitischolarships board meeting to discuss ways to increase fundraising.

* Next weekend we will be packing barrels of books and school supplies.

How can you help?

* Make a donation (either money or school supplies)

* Collect lightly used notebook paper at your office

* Donate used notebook computers

* Sponsor a student through HaitiScholarships (for $1 a day..think about it).

* Pay for a solar electric system for a school (rough cost is $1500 each)

* Become a marketing intern! Both HaitiScholarships and Bona Responds would beyond love someone to help with our website and communications with donors (and would be donors).

Our future efforts:

Donating books, planting gardens, and even installing solar are all good steps, but we can do so much more. For instance, we would love to sponsor a training conference in Leogane where Haitian Teachers could get together and share what is working well and what is not. We'd love to have some teachers from the US or elsewhere work with them to develop stronger curriculums, we'd love to increase the online "penpal" program, we'd love to.....but we need you to help make it a reality.

PS of course we are also still collecting soccer equipment as we believe physical education is also an important means of improving the welfare of those in Haiti. Supplies can be dropped off to 104B in Swan Business Center. Or mailed if you prefer to BonaResponds Box BY 104B Swan Business Center, St, Bonaventure NY 14778

Here is our Amazon WIshlist for items we will send to Haiti.

Much of this was posted on FB as well.

Update on things

2015-02-28T08:31:00.000-05:00

English: Satellite image showing deforestation in Haiti. This image depicts the border between Haiti (left) and the Dominican Republic (right). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

from our FaceBook group:

Update on things:

* Several jobs lined up for today (Saturday 10:35). Mostly inside (-14F the last I looked), but some outside work if it warms up to positive teens smile emoticon Big job is a new floor for a bathroom in Allegany county. (Sunday 11:20-- it will be tarping a roof I THINK). Relax, the roof is low.

* Thanks to the "Hurt Jim's Wallet" campaign, it was a good fundraising week that will allow us to make more WarmSnugglyBlankets(Thanks to Jim C!!) and also support the gardening and tree planting in Haiti. So THANK YOU ALL!!

* The order for new patches for blankets still has not come. I am getting worried. Tried checking on it by phone and email and no answer.

* April 11-12 International Service Weekend still taking shape. We spoke or texted with several people from Haiti, one in Bangladesh, and one from Charlotte yesterday about being involved. Would love others involved! Alumni groups? Churches? Other Schools? Past leaders? Remember: big or small. You can organize a small day for a group of friends, your work team, or just yourself. Clean up a park, teach English, visit a nursing home, paint a school room, or any of a million other things. Key idea is to make the world a little better, one person at a time. AND be a role model by sharing what you do so that others can follow your lead. (more info athttp://www.bonaresponds.org/isd.html

* Good news from Bishop Nelson in Liberia. The rent is paid! So they can now start worrying about making the orphans more at home in their new surroundings. Nelson and his crew are truly doing great work. Hats off to them!

* WRT garden or tree programs in Haiti, we heard from Onel (@TreesforLifeinHaiti), Djemson (OHAPCH), Wesley (CJM), and Rochelin (@Harvesting4Haiti) this past week. All are proceeding very well. Will be speaking with Sandra (TreeangesforHaiti) on Sunday evening to see how we can all work together more efficiently. TreeAngelsforHaiti have a big project planned in May, but alas it is during our finals as I would like to be there to help.

* We had a very good meeting with a group of new leaders on Friday afternoon. Have student leaders for soccer collections, a new local leader (each local leader will be responsible for one day per month--being the site leader, helping to get volunteers etc), and a couple of new HaitiScholarships' marketing and website plans. All in all a very productive late Friday afternoon!

* We did check into helping in Bradford PA this past week when a state of emergency was declared for a broken water line, but we were not needed.

Thanks everyone!! Get involved! Volunteer and Change the World!

Who we are: an introduction to BonaResponds

2015-01-13T14:18:00.000-05:00

A big thank-you to the Olean Rotary club for the opportunity to speak at their luncheon today. It was a good talk and I hope those present weren't bored by Jim's talk. Here is the handout we gave that describes who we are:

Introduction to BonaResponds

If that does not work, here is a link and the actual write up.

The Haiti Earthquake 5 years later

2015-01-12T12:17:00.002-05:00

Five years. It seems like yesterday. In the blink of an eye, so many things changed.

Water bottle I used in Haiti.

I remember it perfectly. I was in Atlanta on a BonaResponds trip to help build a Children's Home that had burned to the ground. It was cold.

It was cold. We had just got back to “camp” and were having our nightly recap/reflection meeting.

And then I got the following tweet from CNN:

“5:14 p.m. on Jan. 12, 2010 -- A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck southern Haiti, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.”

And I somehow knew the future was changed. I had no idea how bad the quake was yet. But I knew instinctively that help would be needed and BonaResponds would be involved.

In the following hours and then days and weeks, the enormity of the earthquake became known: millions of people had lost their homes and hundreds of thousands their lives.

In almost real time, news reports coupled with thousands of tweets, blogs, and facebook posts brought the world a glimpse of the disaster to us all. The conditions were incredible and heart breaking. The suffering, beyond words. An already weak infrastructure was pushed to its breaking point. But in the midst of this disaster and suffering came my first encounters with the incredibly strength, love, and resiliency of the people of Haiti.

By the time we arrived back at campus, thousands of helpers (paid and volunteer, military and civilian) were rushing into Haiti. The next weeks brought harrowing tales of more suffering and some successes.

Fear of the conditions held many back, but the true heroes went anyways. My brother Pat, I am proud to say, was among the very early responders when he and a crew of doctors and nurses from Denver’s Children’s Hospital set up camp (literally and figuratively) in Port au Prince. His nightly updates led BonaResponds to begin collections of money and of medical equipment.

While University officials forbade a BonaResponds' trip to the suffering country, several of the leaders teamed up with AllHands and went to Leogane anyways. While there, the enormity of it all was first glimpsed and a long-term commitment forged.

Not only was the earthquake the worst disaster I had ever seen, it had hit a nation that was already in great need of assistance on almost all fronts: health care, education, infrastructure, and economy. The quake had broken buildings, destroyed roads, flattened schools and killed way too many people, but it had not beaten the spirit of the Haitian people.

To spare the long story of our efforts in the years since, let me say that there have been many victories and some defeats. Overall things are getting better and that BonaResponds is playing a role (however small that role may be). This is not to say that assistance efforts in Haiti are complete nor that BonaResponds is done helping. There is still a great great need for assistance and our efforts are just hitting stride.

Five years after the quake and some of my best friends are Haitian and there are few places I would rather be than in Haiti.

Five years after the quake, our hearts still go out to each and every Haitian who lost loved ones in the quake.

Five years after the quake, our collective consciousness still hurts as the impoverished conditions of so many are made even more challenging by the great losses they suffered.

Five years after the quake, we reaffirm our commitment to work with Haitians to not only rebuild, but to build back better and to give all Haitians the future and opportunities that all people deserve.

Five years after the quake, you are still needed. Whether you are a Haitian living in the slums of Port au Prince or a high flier living in a NYC Penthouse, you can make the difference in the lives of many others. Be a leader. Organize a garden program. Donate to HaitiScholarships to fund an education. Donate to BonaResponds for solar for schools. Collect lightly used school supplies. Tutor students. Donate to plant trees. But do something.

Do it in memory of all of those who died, but also do it so that such a disaster never happens again. You can be the difference. We all MUST be the difference.

Change the world for the better. It begins with you.

Weekly update

2014-12-05T12:23:00.002-05:00

Weekly update

Much good news this week!

The shipment to Haiti has begun arriving! With school supplies, irrigation kits, and more! It will take several weeks to be completely delivered, but the first boxes are arriving! :) :)
We paid $275 today for a composting toilet for the HaitiGoldvision School and Orphanage near Lascahobas Haiti. This should reduce the spread of cholera and other illnesses brought about by poor sanitation.
HUGE Thankyous this week to our donors! Without you, BonaResponds is just a good idea! John and Ann, Pat, Dresser's Dress down day, and Mary especially (remember I have about a week lag from donation to when I see it, so if your name is not here, wait til next week!) BUT THANK YOU!
Another BIG thank you also to Dave Volz and the Cuba-Rushford teen leadership program. A HUGE help! they collected almost 300 pairs of shoes and several boxes of books! GREAT JOB! CR is always one of our biggest helpers! THANK YOU!
Finally a THANK YOU to Michelle, Shelly, Karen, and Lynn for donations of books, shoes, and even winter coats!
This coming week (Dec 13) will be the big BR-Dallas fall workday where they will be working with disadvantaged youth at the Love For Kids Christmas picnic (see http://loveforkidsinc.org/events/christmas-party/ for more information.
Online shopping? Please buy via GoodShop and pick BonaResponds for your charity! Every little bit helps!
There will be no Winter break trip this year. The combination of a shortage of funds, few available leaders made a trip impossible. We will stay busy locally and online, so please get involved.
Nice coverage in the Olean Times Herald this week!
The Next WarmSnugglyBlanket day (where we make blankets for those with cancer) will be Saturday January 31, 2015. We hope to make 100 blankets!
International Service Weekend is April 11-12, 2015. mark your calendars and plan an event!
Looking for a present for someone who has everything? How about donating in his/her name? A solar system costs $1500, a ramp costs about $1200, a composting toilet $275, School for a year for a student via HaitiScholarships costs about $200, a gas fill up on one of our vans costs $75, a new hammer costs about $25, a shovel costs about $20.
We will be working locally this Sunday (11:15 by the trailer). A VERY VERY full agenda is on tap. Dress warmly!
Happy December!

Update on many fronts

2014-11-25T11:33:00.000-05:00

My top ten list for the week:

In this relative lull in the post snow cleanup, a fast update on other fronts:

1. A huge THANK YOU to all who helped in Buffalo! The snow was truly breathtaking. To see the community come together was encouraging and heart warming. We made three trips up and had almost 50 volunteers. We helped to clear 29 driveways, about 15 fire hydrants, several roofs, doors, and walkways. We now wait and hope the flooding is not too bad.

2. Haiti continues to be a source of both our great successes and bitter frustration. First the bad news: key parts of the solar system we donated to a school in Leogane were stolen and the one in Gonaives burned up. Because of this, we have placed the VERY needed system on hold until we can figure out how to stop the crime. It is mindboggling frustrating and humbling. On the positive side, we have heard great successes at schools and orphanages in Lascambas and Gonaives. (GREAT JOB Jean and Djemson and the others)

3. Instead of solar in Haiti we will fund a few composting toilets as a test. (At least they are tougher to steal or break!). They will make things safer in many ways and reduce disease. Additionally, the waste can be composted into fertilizer. The program has the added benefit of being cheaper too! Only $320. We will be paying $270 on at least a couple to start. Why $270? A condition of one of the donors was that the Haitians raise at least some of the money as well so that they would truly see its worth and not just as another throw-away NGO handout.

4. Also in Haiti as part of our efforts to improve education, we will be working with @Haitischolarships, some people from the St Bonaventure School of Education, as well as schools in Haiti to create better standards and on teacher training. This will include better reporting from Haitian schools and tracking of attendance (teacher and student) and tracking improvement. This is a BIG WIN!

5. Today the last of the money raised in the #EndEbola leaf raking campaign will go out. If anyone wants to continue to help in a very impoverished area, we sure would love the help! Today the CYC crew is back in Monrovia. Their Kids Camp starts soon. (Dec 10)

6. Our book collection has gone VERY slowly, so we will extend it until Dec 8th. Remember these are for local families with children from pre K to grade 12. Books can be left off in 104 Swan Building on the SBU campus.

7. On Saturday night, our van suffered a broken window while parked on campus. If anyone wants to confess to the vandalism and pay for a new window, we will NOT take it to the police nor security.

8. We will be working this weekend. Best guess is in Olean, but we may go to Buffalo again if the needs look great still. Stay tuned.

9. THANK YOU to those of you who donated this past week! Denise, Todd, Sean, Pat, Ryan, Gary, Patricia, and those who helped with food this weekend. We have said many times, but it deserves repeating "Without you, BonaResponds is just a good idea."

10. Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone! We all have so many things to be thankful for. We often forget that when we see all misfortune and sometimes pure evil that happens. The good is much more common even though it tries to hide itself. Be good! Be Safe! Volunteer and Change the world!

Fast (semi fast) top ten update list

2014-11-14T10:49:00.000-05:00

Never enough time to get the word out on everything. But here goes:

BR update: top ten list on many fronts:

1. It is another Hilbert weekend, so only going out on Sunday--get your school work caught up on Saturday! (Sun 11:15: dress warm!!!) Job includes more steps installed and likely some winterization. Also, MAYBE helping clean out a storage area in Allegany County that has water damage. Stay tuned.
Remember the donation for Haiti from the recent graduate a few weeks ago? It was sent out and allowed a larger garden and reforestation program in Gonaives, teachers at a school in Leogane to be paid, and teachers at an Orphanage in Laschobas to be paid. It also is allowing them to think now about composting toilets that will be great!!!
Money was transferred twice to West Africa for our partners there. Like in other past situations (From MS to OK to NY to Haiti), there are so many needs remaining. The $1762 we raised has been (or will be very shortly) all been allocated and dispersed. If you would like to continue helping, fund raisers will be needed. It is as simple as that.
Several jobs have been on our to-do list for months but for one reason or the other keep getting pushed back. With the winter, unfortunately, here, it looks like a few of the jobs (painting) will have to wait until Spring/summer. The lack of volunteers and a larger leadership pool does have a cost. Sorry to those who are waiting.
The lack of fundraising will also mean that we will not be able to do a food packing event this spring.
Our International Service Weekend (we ask people wherever they are to go and do some service from cleaning up a park to painting a school, etc) date this spring is April 11-12. This is the weekend AFTER Easter. Start planning your projects! More information soon!
Locally, I was speaking with a teacher this past week who was saying some of her students have no books at home. One girl in particular was so happy when she had one book. So from now until December 1, we will be collecting books! We are willing to work with any group already doing this, but I did promise the one teacher that we would get at least two books for each of her 25 students (K-6).
A dozen WarmSnugglyBlankets were given out this week. A big thank you to the Pink Pumpkin Project for including our blankets in their care packages! Also, a big Thank-You to the St. Johns 9th grade Religious Education program for helping to make blankets! (thanks Ann!)
HaitiScholarships is happy to be working with a JMC class (thanks Shelly!) to help bolster our fundraising and media presence. I take full blame for HaitiScholarship not truly blooming, as it has the potential to be huge and is still very much still in a start-up mode. We have a board meeting this Sunday evening, so if you have any good ideas for us (or want to make a donation to put more Haitian students in school), please let us know!
A reminder with Christmas shopping coming up, if you are shopping online, go to GoodShop.com and select BonaResponds as your charity and we will get a small amount of each sale.

Thanks everyone!!

jim

A thank you and then some Inspiration from various sources

2014-11-06T09:15:00.001-05:00

Inspiration comes from many places, so on this cold wet Autumn day, maybe some of you need some inspiration to come volunteer. Here you go:

First from BonaResponds' facebook page, A thank-you from Djemson in Gonaives Haiti for the supplies we sent.

His thank-you:

"I really miss words to thank you!!

Thanks again .... Attached please find the picture of the barrels and a picture of a beautiful library that we use to put all the books that we have , It is more beautiful now as we have more books! thanks again ...for the books!!! I really appreciate that!...on Behalf of all the children, I say a big thank you to you, BonaResponds and the volunteers who help out with this!

Thanks again Jim for all your supports and also a big thank you to BonaResponds

With Gratitude,
Djemson

Accompanying the thank-you from Djemson were several pictures.

This is my favorite picture as many of the children huddle around a small toy elephant. As we debate the long run viability and soundness of the shipment program (we have now shipped well over 100 pallets of school supplies, medical equipment, books, and soccer equipment), we should never forget how small things can mean so much.

That wasn't enough for you? Ok a few more from non BonaResponds' sources:

From the Nelson Mandela facebook page. (posted on Nov 6, 2014)

From the Dalai Lama facebook page: (posted on Nov 6, 2014)

Want still more? Check out volunteer quotes on Pinterest.

--!Hope to see you volunteering with us soon

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A thank you and then some Inspiration from various sources