"Members of the Pacioli scholars at St. Bonaventure conduct interviews about the service organization that has done countless amounts of work in the community."
Reflection by Michael English
My first experience with BonaResponds was during the first semester of my freshmen year during a local day’s event. I had to go to a volunteer service for my freshmen 101 class and decided that this would be the best opportunity to satisfy the requirement for the class. Initially going into the program for the class I had absolutely no expectations to continuing participating with BonaResponds.
During the volunteering I actually enjoyed doing the work that I was doing, not because I was doing something somewhat fun but I became overwhelmed with a feeling of “goodness” that could have made performing the most boring and tedious task enjoyable. I realized that there is a need for people to help others. I honestly cannot describe the feeling that happens after you help a complete stranger in need, all I can say is that I challenge someone to help someone in need and not feel good about helping them at the end of the day.
I feel as though BonaResponds has provided me with a new opportunity to expand myself as a better person in our community. If it were not for the program I don’t think that I would have quite the same outlook on community service, selflessness, and volunteering. What used to be an idea that never crossed my mind has now become a priority to me. I believe that it is programs like BonaResponds that truly make us EXTRAORDIRNARY."
"Those who have succeeded have provided a valuable lesson to social workers in the region, one that they say the federal government has been slow to learn: it is not enough simply to give money, or rent vouchers, to people unable to strategize for themselves. Those who have achieved the most stability, like Ms. August, have had the most sustained kind of attention: caseworkers who make house calls, counseling, transportation, gentle encouragement and tough love. That kind of care has been the exception, not the rule."
"“It’s the best gift ever,” Vicki Eisenhardt said.
The home was customized to meet the needs of her family, especially her two sons, Dalton, 10, and Wyatt, 8, who both battle a rare genetic disorder that requires around-the-clock care.
Born with unbalanced translocation chromosome 15, a disease so rare that they may be the only ones in the U.S. who suffer from it, the boys have no sense of touch, and extensive lung damage has rendered them unable to speak. They use tracheotomy tubes to breathe, and feeding tubes to eat."
"David Campbell, an investment banker from Massachusetts, was one of them. His planned one-week trip to Thailand turned into a month-long stay. During that time, David helped manage new arrivals and eventually formed a volunteer-driven-non-profit. Since then, his group, Hands On Disaster Response, has worked in a dozen natural disaster zones. David joins us from Carlisle, Mass. with more"
"A customized home was built in Machias for the Eisenhardt family. The family has three children, two have a rare disorder requires around-the-clock care.
Dalton, 10 and Wyatt, 8, are so happy to be in a new home. It was built by volunteers since October.
"The new home is already paying off. The family has noticed with a better clean air system in the house, the boys need less suctioning from the tracheotomy tubes."
" I am so late in my thanks, and I am very sorry....[I want to] thank the many volunteers that painted my house this last year. This was done through BonaResponds. I have been very ill and slowly getting back on my feet.
What a great asset to your University. I needed so much help on my house and someone told me about your group. God bless all of you for your help...."
Rose
"Since October, countless volunteers worked diligently to build the Eisenhardt family a dream home. Even though the home is complete, some exterior work needs to be finished. Anyone interested in donating can visit: http://www.post1460.org/ or http://christianyouthcorps.bfn.org/ ."
"..for the past two months, another remarkable makeover has been happening in Machias...Webb and Vicki Eisenhardt on Saturday moved into the 3,800-square-foot house customized for their two sons, Dalton, 10, and Wyatt, 8, who are both battling a rare genetic disorder that requires around-the-clock care.
'I love it,' Vicki Eisenhardt said.
'It's pretty unbelievable,' her husband added.
The Eisenhardts also have a 16-year-old son, Tyler."
"With three volunteer camps in Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties, the organization has built more than 100 new homes and has renovated more than 12,000 homes throughout South Mississippi since August 2005. With the help of more than 160,000 national and international volunteers through the United Methodist connection, the disaster response team will be aiding Gulf Coast recovery and rebuilding efforts well into 2010."
"In October, Katherine Weafer, daughter of San and Kevin Weafer of Scituate, began work on her first service project of the year with the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), an AmeriCorps program. Katherine is working with the Crown King Fire Department in Crown King, Ariz., and the team’s focus is on wild land fire prevention....“I chose to do a term of national service after participating in my university's community service program, Bona Responds,” she said. “I had done two relief trips to Mississippi after Katrina as well as Galveston, Texas, and saw what people went through and wanted to give back.”
Pete, I am sure every volunteer would say the same to you. You made it a great project to work on! Thanks.
"It has been a true pleasure and blessing working with everyone...see you in late January at the House Warming Party. Date will be set early Jan. Have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed new Year! The CYC, American Legion and the whole Eisenhardt Project Team."
"BonaResponds will help rebuild Leigh Cottage, a children’s home destroyed in a fire two years ago. When the cottage reopens, it will be used to house youth in the United Methodist Men’s Group’s Independent Living Program.
“It is going to be a great opportunity for us to help and for our volunteers to use some of the skills that they have developed building homes locally and helping this semester in Machias,”...“I am sure that the trip will be a very rewarding experience for the volunteers and, more importantly, a big help for the children and families who need the help in the Atlanta area.”"
"It was following a devastating tornado in Rochester in 1883 that a nun, Mother Mary Alfred Moes, presented a plan for a hospital to Dr. William Worrall Mayo. Mother Alfred had been sent to Rochester as a member of a new congregation, the Sisters of St. Francis, established by Fr. Pamphilo da Magliano, one of the founders of St. Bonaventure University.
The Mayo Clinic’s annual Franciscan Lecture is held to remind Mayo Clinic leaders and staff of their Franciscan heritage"
"We have a pending storm and our fears are to have people traveling to the celebration and have an accident. Due to forecast of up to 31 inches of snow we will have to postpone the festivities on Saturday. We will be weather permitting on Sunday at noon moving the family in with no celebration planned but anyone who wishes to assist in the move please call Pete at CYC.... Sorry for the change but due to circumstances we need to make this call at this time with the information we currently have. Please let everyone aware of this change and information about new date and time will be fourth coming. Thanks for your cooperation in this manner. Pete Andrews and the Eisenhardt Project Team"
"Our latest report -- New Technologies in Emergencies and Conflicts: The Role of Information and Social Networks -- looks at innovation in the use of technology along the timeline of crisis response, from emergency preparedness and alerts to recovery and rebuilding.
It profiles organizations whose work is advancing the frontlines of innovation, offers an overview of international efforts to increase sophistication in the use of IT and social networks during emergencies, and provides recommendations for how governments, aid groups, and international organizations can leverage this innovation to improve community resilience"
"Thanks to the efforts of United Methodist Men and GlenCastle Constructors and the generosity of countless friends of the Home, the rebuilding of Leigh Cottage (which was destroyed by a fire in 2007) is going great! Click here for more details and photos of the construction."
“I don’t know what we’re doing. That’s alright, whatever it is, we’ll do it well!”
-Volunteer
I heard a volunteer say this as we stood just inside the doors at Murphy waiting for everyone to arrive this morning. It was cold and “early” on a Saturday morning. I knew we would have good work for the day – both Machias and Friendship projects were moving along well and Pete and Ed (aka “Little Chief”) were well organized. The specific jobs had not yet been communicated to the volunteers, so they had no idea what they’d be doing, but that made no difference - they were there and ready to help.
I love that about volunteering – it just makes you feel optimistic and flexible and ready to go. The more you volunteer, the more you realize how good it feels to help others… you just want to keep doing it. If you haven’t been out with BonaResponds, please come out. You won’t regret it and you will help someone who could really use a hand. And, you can come out as little or as much as you’d like (but trust me, you’ll be back! :))
The Machias group today started by sorting out a large pile of siding – some new, some used – most of which will be installed on the house soon. We then traveled down to the “old house” to dissemble the playground set, which involved taking off a swing set, rock climbing wall, and other pieces and then loading the remaining large frame onto a trailer. We also loaded on the boys’ John Deere carts and other toys from the backyard as they watched and cheered us on from the back window (It was very cold today and the boys have been sick, so they didn’t work with us today like they usually do!).
The second trip with the trailer was a bit trickier. On this trip, we were working at the very back of the yard, loading cinder blacks, flagstone, etc. An assembly line spontaneously formed, and we filled the trailer right up. Between the heavy load and the wet ground though, we had a little difficulty getting going. But, Pete is resourceful and we managed to push (by hand) and tug (with a truck) and get out. During this time, we also had a few minutes to visit “the boys” who had just helped Tyler celebrate his 16th birthday.
Dalton and Wyatt were animated and cheerful as we talked with them and Vicki about getting ready for the move and the big Moving Day next Saturday. Dalton hasn’t decided yet if he wants to ring the bell on the fire truck, but they were both very excited about the fire truck ride!
The remainder of the day we spent at the new house, painting the baseboards and door frames in Tyler’s room, the master bedroom, sitting room, and closet. Many others were there working today too on the lighting, smoke alarms, and finishing work. The house is coming along very nicely and is really looking fantastic.
Overall we had a great crew today – lots of fun and great work.
