Update on our #EndEbola project

Médecins Sans Frontières logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

An update on our #EndEbola fundraiser:

Last week we raised a total of $757 and CYC raised $300.  This weekend (Halloween Weekend) will be the last before we send the money.  We have several jobs lined up so we need volunteers!    We are still hoping for $1500, but we can't do it without you!

CYC group in Dolo Town, Liberia,  Africa 

If you would still like your leaves raked still (new minimum $50 donation--we learned our lesson) please submit job at BonaResponds.org.

To volunteer: rain or shine: 10:30 on Sat and 11:15 on Sunday by the lower parking lot by the baseball field at St. Bonaventure University.


The money will go to some of the following.  You can also donate directly to them.  We will be sending the money on Sunday, so PLEASE contact us ASAP.



Groups we recommend:
1. Doctors Without Borders
2. Partners in Health
3. Catholic Relief Services:
4. UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief)
5. http://medicuschristi.com/ a group run by a Siena Graduate
6. CitiHope: a group we have worked with in the past and hope to again!
7. CYC of Liberia (which runs service programs and children camps and are getting many additional orphans)


Here are over 60 pictures of the work last week: 

Over 15 volunteers made this large pile of leaves to help #EndEbola

Bishop Nelson and the CYC crew in Liberia sent along the following (I am combining a few messages): 

"There are new outbreak in rural area/ hour counties. 
We already a jeep with " BonaResonds/CYC-USA written on it, Please send some Tshirt by DHL... we also need a used laptop to do quality documentation and on time.
Please Brother. We need a training of trainers workshop. Try to do your best for your present in Liberia. we working on the website, it will soon be ready BUT if can help me to build, DO.

"There is a need to put all we have into the upcoming generation, theyouth, and the kids for a happy generation to come. All they have isthat which was giving to them.
Now that we are fighting Ebola together, let us save lives now,tomorrow will be too late for a soul.
These pictures were from the assessment in Dolo Town by the CYC EBOLA task force inLiberia. "

Bishop Nelson S. Boegbah"

 

 

 


Update: 11:30 AMEastern October 31, 2014:

We send the following update to those who donated to our efforts.  In an effort for total transparency, here is the email:

"Thank you to all of you who volunteered and to those who donated to have the leaves done. 

In conjunction with CYC, we have done 16 jobs so far!   Thank you to all involved!

Financially the program was a moderate success. We will likely not make our $2500 goal.  To date: 

CYC in Machias  3 jobs at $100 each

BonaResponds 12 jobs (donations ranged from $7 to $100).  

As of right now we are at $1057.  So it will go in the "better not perfect" category. But the $1000 (plus we have a pledge for another $200 to be collected from one job this coming weekend) makes it a good effort by all and will definitely help! 

We do have a few jobs left this weekend, so we'd love to have you volunteer again with us!  10:30 Sat, 11:15 on Sunday.  

The CYC group in Liberia is particularly happy about your efforts and Bishop Nelson has personally asked me to let you all know that he is praying for you and wishes you all a sincere Thank You for your efforts and donations.  You can read more from him (and see pictures from their assessment in Dolo Town Liberia at 

http://bonaresponds.blogspot.com/2014/10/update-on-our-endebola-project.html

thank you all again!

jim"

Who or what is BonaResponds

WIth all of the new hits the past few days, we better let you know who we are:

BonaResponds

Who we are:  BonaResponds (BonaResponds.org) is a volunteer organization whose mission is simply “to help”. BonaResponds is affiliated with St. Bonaventure University (SBU) it is located 75 miles south of Buffalo NY.   BonaResponds is open for all and always welcome new volunteers!  The more volunteers we have, the more good we can do!

What we do:  BonaResponds helps to make things better.  We provide semi-skilled and unskilled labor on a wide range of projects from wheelchair ramps to disaster response.  We generally can not provide materials.  Thus, if possible the homeowner is responsible for the cost of lumber, paint, roofing supplies, etc.  In the event the homeowner cannot pay, we may be able to help secure materials.  In other cases we can buy the materials and you can pay us back.

What to expect:  We will try very hard to make things better.  We are not professionals.  The majority of us  are students or work full time.  All of us give up our own free time to help others.  We try very hard to help everyone but are not perfect and can not do everything.  Please be patient with us.

• BonaResponds aims to help make things better. We may not make it perfect but we can make it better! Whether the help is "just" being there immediately after a disaster to listen to survivors or if it means to haul trees, gut houses, or pick up debris. Our goal is to make the world, and your life, a little better.  

How can you help?

* We love to work with those we are helping.  It means much more to the volunteers if we are working along side those we are helping.  Even if you can not do any of the work, just to be there and speaking with the volunteers means a great deal.

BonaResponds History

* BR  was established after Hurricane Katrina and has made over 50 trips after many types of disasters and have had over a thousand local work days

* In addition to disaster relief, work has included over 100 wheelchair ramps, new floors, making homes safer, winterizing homes, construction work on two homes, roofs, work at schools, churches, park clean ups, river clean ups, work with “at risk” students, collection of books, coats, gloves, sporting equipment for the less privileged, painting,

* We are open to all

* We work approximately 50 weekends a year, so come on out and lend a hand! We are ALWAYS looking for volunteers!

Here is a  partial list of items (call them mantras, sayings, thoughts, or views) that help guide BonaResponds

1. Everyone has something to offer.
2. It is better to go and not be needed than to not go and be needed.
3. Better not perfect.
4. Walking in others' shoes not enough, we need to see things through their eyes.
5. We can't do everything, but we can do something.  
6. A small job to society is often an enormous help to those helped.
7. Much can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit.
8. Many hands make light(er) work.
9. All voluntary activities must be "win-win".
10. Make a positive difference
11. Everyone is a role model.
12. No one is perfect.

Facebook: facebook.com/BonaRespondsPage

Twitter: Twitter.com/BonaResponds           BonaResponds.org

Media coverage of our #EndEbola Campaign

A fast look at some of the media coverage of our #EndEbola campaign


From the BV by Julia:

"BonaResponds began a campaign this week to raise awareness for the fight against Ebola. The group will also raise money for the organizations fighting the disease and dealing with its consequences.The campaign encourages volunteers to help rake leaves in the surrounding community. Community members who choose to have their lawns raked are asked to donate to an organization fighting Ebola....
“Suffering anywhere is suffering everywhere. I see no distinction in helping the person down the block and the person around the world except for the costs involved,” Jim Mahar, advisor of BonaResponds, said.

http://www.thebvnewspaper.com/2014/10/23/ebb-out-ebola/


From the Olean Times Herald:

"....spread this campaign by telling friends and using the hashtag #endebola on their social media profiles. BonaResponds hopes this campaign will grow into something bigger by making it a challenge, reminiscent of the recently popular “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.”Volunteers can challenge others to raise $100 for the cause or donate $10 themselves.
... because the disease is affecting such a poor part of the world, it is especially difficult to treat."

http://www.oleantimesherald.com/news/article_b9664622-5ad2-11e4-aad2-0779fdc3c4d5.html


From Time Warner Cable News Buffalo

"...if you go to BonaResponds.org they can sign up if they want their lawn mowed, or raked or anything that they want done, they can describe the job and then they can decide if they are going to make a donation to whichever group their doing it to, "

http://buffalo.twcnews.com/content/news/779704/bonaresponds-and-christian-youth-corps-team-up-to-fight-ebola/

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David N. Campbell | Encore.org

Sharkheads shop: Katrina example for over 2 years (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

David N. Campbell | Encore.org:



A huge congratulation goes out to David Campbell the founder of AllHands.   Without him and his work at the original Hands on USA BonaResponds would likely have never taken off.

We have worked with them many times, and David has spoken to both my class as BonaResponds leaders.  He also made a key donation to us to allow us to buy chain saws after the Buffalo Snow Storm in October 2006.  Here is some of our past blog entries that involved him: http://bonaresponds.blogspot.com/search?q=campbell


Congratulations David!!



http://www.encore.org/david-n-campbell

"When Campbell wrapped up his work in Thailand in 2005, he returned home to Massachusetts only to have Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of the United States eight months later. Using the model he developed in Bang Tao, Campbell was on the ground within a week in Biloxi, MS, eventually rallying over 1,500 people to help.

These transformative experiences, overseas and closer to home, became the foundation for All Hands Volunteers, the nonprofit Campbell launched in 2005 with a simple mission: to provide immediate and sustainable volunteer support — with minimal bureaucratic obstacles — to communities struck by disaster all over the world."

'via Blog this'

Some pictures from Liberia

The CYC crew in Liberia did an assessment yesterday of the area around Dolo Town.

Their take-aways:

1. Even after the crisis ends, many new orphans will need help for years.  
2. People in most areas are getting the message of how Ebola is spread.
3. By their estimates for the area they surveyed (an area heavily affected) 42% of homes lost someone (or a relative--so this could be a high estimate).
4. 1/7 of the children they dealt with are now orphaned (realize Liberia has recently had a major civil war and is a very poor area to begin with, many of the children did not have both parents to start--we do not want to overplay the deaths from Ebola).
5. They need money for more protective suits, chlorine bleach, and food.  They said a few times that food is becoming an issue as transport has slowed. 

 Here are a few of the pictures they sent:

Pictures courtesy of Bishop Nelson Sampson Boegbah 

Help #EndEbola!

Help reduce suffering in West Africa. help #EndEbola!

BonaResponds is joining forces with CYC (Christian Youth Corps) and the entire world (this can be done anywhere and by anyone!). 

The basic plan: Volunteers will do lawn work or other small chores in return for a donation that goes to those helping those on the front lines in the battle against Ebola. 

From this basic idea, the donation can work in two different ways.
1. You give us the money and we decide the actual split of the money (it will all go to the groups below)
2. You tell us how much and to whom you are donating and then make the donation on your own (you can also use the hashtag #EndEbola to share your donation and volunteer event to help!)

Groups we recommend:
1. Doctors Without Borders
2. Partners in Health
3. Catholic Relief Services:
4. UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief)
5. http://medicuschristi.com/ a group run by a Siena Graduate
6. CitiHope: a group we have worked with in the past and hope to again!
7. CYC of Liberia (which runs service programs and children camps and are getting many additional orphans)



We need three things:
1. Work to do (we will be raking leaves and other jobs) in the Western NY and NW Pennsylvania area this weekend). You can sign up to get your lawn work done atBonaResponds.org
2. We will need volunteers (and rakes!) this weekend. 10:30 on Saturday to start from lower parking lot to the West of the baseball field. (here is a waiver form that will need to be signed: http://www.bonaresponds.org/forms/br-waiver-new.pdf)
3. We need people to help spread the word! Please use hashtags #EndEbola#BonaResponds in tweets/ Instagram or Facebook posts.

Don't have any small chores? You can still get involved. Challenge co-workers and friends to raise $100 for one of the groups or else they (and you!) each donate $10.

We'd love to have your help!

And a special note to people and groups other areas: This is totally "open source" so please please imitate US and improve/multiply our efforts! The key is getting help to the groups that need it!

PLEASE SHARE!!! This really needs to go viral! (The campaign and not the Ebola virus!  )

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Notice Board Announcement

BonaResponds'  "Let's Go Viral to Fight Ebola" meeting

Super excited to announce a plan to help the many thousands of people affected by Ebola.  We will be launching a program where people across the country can help raise money for groups working on the front lines in the war on Ebola.

We are teaming up with local schools and CYC (the Christian Youth Corps) from Machias and Bradford to rake leaves for people.  In return, we will request a donation made to one of the organizations working in West Africa.

* Doctors Without Borders* Doctors Without Borders
* Partners in Health 
* Catholic Relief Services
* Kids for Christ / Christian Youth Corp - Monrovia Liberia (an orphanage/children's camp)

We think this could (and should) go viral.  Challenge your friends to raise $100 or else donate $5 themselves!

But we need help.

1. Leaders to help make a new website ASAP. (needs to be up and running by late Wednesday)
2. People to spread the idea to their local schools, churches, friends, etc.  (think Ice Bucket Challenge for cool autumn weather!)
3. People to volunteer to help rake leaves and more
4. People to be leaders!
5. Did I mention people to spread the word?   :)

Why? Simply because it is the right thing to do.  The heroes fighting this battle need our support.  The suffering must end.  The children who have lost their parents and all the people who are losing loved ones, need our support.  We can't go there.  But we can help.  And launching a viral attack on a killer virus just seems right!

There will be two immediate meetings:

9 pm (yes it is late and yes there is MNF, but come anyways) on Monday in the Swan Atrium.
and 5:15 PM on Tuesday again in the Swan Atrium (the 5:15 Tuesday is subject to change: follow BonaResponds on Twitter for updates.

See BonaResponds.orgSee BonaResponds.org for more info

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An interview with Larry Orsini

YES!  Larry nails it.  Great stuff.  From his time right after Katrina to how BonaResponds is truly life changing.

The audio has some hiccups, but the content is so good. Larry has been with BonaResponds from the very start and totally "gets" it. THANK YOU LARRY!

The BonaResponds Story: an interview with important people in BonaResponds History

BonaResponds started after hurricane Katrina.  In the time since then we have worked with many people who have had valuable experiences and stories.

Anthony DiMario begins the series of interviews with what the early years of BonaResponds were like.
 

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Mid semester report card

Departments of Haiti (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Mid-term break thoughts:

1. First the numbers:  Five ramps, several clean up jobs, a painting job, handrails, two new steps, cleaned pumpkins, painted our trailer, and a large shipment to Haiti.

2. A great group of first-year volunteers have stepped in to help.  Turnout was great at the start of the year but has dropped off in recent weekends.

3. We are still looking for more student leaders who could head up a weekend work day, as well as help with some work during the week.  (ESPECIALLY if you have a vehicle!)  This is a pretty big need.  We are missing Greg and Reed from last year.

4. Our efforts in Haiti have been good.  New contacts throughout the country have made our work in Haiti more enjoyable and I believe more effective.  From schools, solar, garden programs, orphanages, and even soccer programs, I believe there are many ways where we can make measurable improvements in the lives of people and the environment in Haiti.

5. WarmSnugglyBlanket is a definite area of emphasis for the rest of the school year.  It has been a weak point since school has started.  We have not been giving out nearly as many blankets, we have fewer blankets in inventory than at any point since 2013, and have done no fundraising.  That said, we have received some wonderful thank-you's from blanket recipients and have some new potential leaders and helpers to make this better.  Look for a large blanket making day later this school year.  (Note we did have a tentative blanket making day planned where we were going to make 100 pink blankets (estimated cost of $800, but the would-be sponsor was unable to do it, so we postponed it.  If you or your business/church group would like to sponsor such a day, please let us know!)

6. Another failure was the lack of an actual fall break trip.  I had hoped to go to Detroit, but only 3 others signed up, and with a heavy local workload (to say nothing of school work), our fall break trip will be to Western New York this year with work locally Sat, Sun, and Monday.  A good reminder that we are a group whose mission is to help, not to travel.

7. A big "THANK YOU" to those who have donated!  You are the best and are allowing us to do what we do.  Without you, BonaResponds is just a good idea.  Remember that.  Be proud of yourself for giving!   That said, if we are to be fully transparent and honest, I have done an awful job in this area.  (I do have many excuses if you want to hear them:  a marketing class was going to do it, I reached out to potential leaders from the community and never heard back, etc., etc.).  But in the end it is just another in the continuing ways "Jim let us down".  Thanks to those of you who give in spite of my poor fundraising skills we have not yet been unable to help, but it is a trend we need to fix.  Not only for local projects (ball bark number is each ramp costs $1,000) but for Haiti and food packing.  Several requests for people to help in this area have failed and, as a result, a spring food packing event looks VERY unlikely.  If you would like to help in this, please contact me (Jim). We need to raise about $25,000 to do it.  To date we have a pledge of $4000 if we go ahead with the day.

8. PositiveRipples is progressing but at glacial speed.  We have filed for incorporation are are waiting for state approval.  We can not really do much until we get that.  Waiting teaches patience?

9. Much like the videos we shared on who we are helping in Haiti, we will be making a series of short videos on the history of BonaResponds and interviews with some of our leaders (past and present).  These will appear sort of as a vlog to start.  Look for them soon.  I am interviewing Larry and Bonnie Orsini this week!

10. To sum up: we have had a very good, but not perfect semester so far.  We need more help in many areas, but we are progressing on many fronts.  We would love to have you get involved!  Remember we are open to all and you do not need to make a long term commitment.  We meet almost every Saturday at 10:30 and Sunday at 11:15 (although watch for a possible Time change after the clocks change).  

You can always donate to us at https://netcommunity.sbu.edu/netcommunity/donation-pages/support-bonaresponds

and if you want to get involved: PM us, come volunteer and we can talk, or email Jim at Jim.Mahar@gmail.com.  We'd love your help and there are people who need your help.  Volunteer and Change the world!!

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Update from today's notice board

Today's notice Board announcement:

BonaResponds Announcements

1. Today is the last day to sign up for the POSSIBLE fall break trip to Detroit. IF we do not get enough interest, we will be working here and on projects for Haiti. Sign up at: http://bonaresponds.blogspot.com/2014/09/fall-break-trip-detroit-maybe.html

2. We will be working Saturday and Sunday this weekend (like normal  ). Saturday will be local and a shorter day. Sunday will be in Machias and we really need volunteers for Sunday! (Sat 10:30, Sunday 11:15 from the trailer behind Maintenance)

3. We are still looking for more leaders. You must be willing to be a team leader at least once a month and work a couple of hours during the week.

4. Do you have any books laying around that you want to get rid of? We are collecting them for a few reading programs in the US and for some libraries in Haiti. (We'd especially like children's books, dictionaries, How-to/DIY books, and any books in French.) You can bring them with you if you are coming to volunteer, or drop them off outside Jim's office in 104B Swan.

The following was not part of the notice board but should have been:

5. We are also again looking for children's shoes. An orphanage in Haiti has requested them as well as a program in Costa Rica.

Unlike

6. One of the jobs this SATURDAY will be to be cleaning 200 pumpkins forThe Pink Pumpkin Project. Many hands make light work! Come help this great cause to help local women fighting cancer.

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