Olean Times Herald article on BonaResponds's new Trailer

Nice article from the Olean Times Herald on our new trailer .

"BonaResponds student, Rob Ryer, has used his car so often to transport chainsaws, axes and tools to help with volunteer work projects that the back seat of his small car is literally torn up.

In the future, Mr. Ryer expects that his car will be used to transport BonaResponds volunteers instead of tools and equipment, thanks to a new Featherlite aluminum trailer won by the organization. The trailer was delivered Wednesday to St. Bonaventure University by Dean Davis, owner of Davis Trailer World LLC. The trailer was one of two Featherlites won by Olean pharmacist Vic Vena on behalf of BonaResponds. BonaResponds, a student-run organization that assists with disaster relief projects and community needs, will use the new trailer to haul tools and equipment to project sites."

BonaResponds in April

A few of the places we will be helping in Buffalo

We will be working at various places around Buffalo. They are all very worthy projects and we hope you come out to help! Meet at Villa Marie (in the back gymnasium area) at 10:00 on Saturday March 26, 2011.

Here are some of the places we will be working:

Kevin Guest House:





The Bob Lanier Center:

"Helping Kids Get From Where They Are To Where They Need To Be."


Our Mission is "to nurture the learning and development of children, youth and adults, with high quality, caring staff and in accessible facilities, so that everyone we serve can acquire the necessary education, knowledge, values, skills and self-esteem to enable them to improve their quality of life and contribute to the positive development of the community".

The Bob Lanier Center is in its nineteenth year of providing services to youth in K through 12th grades and helping them meet the challenges of the New York State Learning Standards.

"Helping Kids Get From Where They Are To Where They Need To Be."

Our Mission is "to nurture the learning and development of children, youth and adults, with high quality, caring staff and in accessible facilities, so that everyone we serve can acquire the necessary education, knowledge, values, skills and self-esteem to enable them to improve their quality of life and contribute to the positive development of the community".

The Bob Lanier Center is in its nineteenth year of providing services to youth in K through 12th grades and helping them meet the challenges of the New York State Learning Standards.

Vive La Casa:

"VIVE INC is the largest refugee shelter in the United States. Since our founding in 1984 VIVE has served more than 68,000 asylum seekers from 106 countries. VIVE is the only organization in the country with the primary focus of serving refugees as they begin the process of seeking asylum. Last year VIVE served more than 3,800 refugees, 60% of whom were women and children. VIVE operates La Casa shelter with 112 beds, a kitchen, a legal clinic, and a free “store” to distribute donated clothing. In 2008 VIVE provided more than 44,000 bednights of shelter, 120,000 meals and legal services to the more than 3,800 clients. In 2008 VIVE served more clients then all other homeless shelters in Erie County combined."

St Patricks Franciscan Friary on Seymour St is a community center that serves the poor in many ways. From having a prison resource center, food bank, and garden, the friary is an oasis in S. Buffalo. Ironically it is very close to Sal and Justin's house that we worked on last summer with Cricket and others. .

St. Lawrence Franciscan Guest House. We painted almost all of the rooms upstairs last year as part of our International Service Day. This year we will be helping to reopen their closed school as a community center and afterschool programs.

"The Franciscan Guest House at St. Lawrence is a former convent, situated in central city, Buffalo, New York. It is available to any small group for spiritual programs, retreats, and overnight accommodations, especially for those who plan city service projects"

Editor takes chance on BonaResponds - Opinion

Editor takes chance on BonaResponds - Opinion: "

Though I'd never used a hammer or power tools before, I nervously signed up for the BonaResponds spring break trip to Greenville, S.C. I didn't realize how much I'd discover about myself and the benefits of volunteering.

My previous spring break trips entailed accomplishing as little as possible, sleeping in until noon and lounging on the beach. This trip was the exact opposite. The fast-paced, long days filled with helping the community of Greenville unexpectedly placed my lingering worries about life and school in the back of my mind."

Nice article Elizabeth!!