Collections for Haiti, Liberia, and the US

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)

Related articles

• Soccer programs in Haiti
• The Bishop of Jacmel Haiti on the importance of educatuon and how you can help

An update on our Efforts in Liberia

We were asked by the University to document what we were doing so we figured we would share it with the BonaResponds Community as well.  If the embedded presentation does not work, here is the link: http://bit.ly/1aQpWrv

Short version:

We are helping CYC-Liberia with their new, much larger, orphanage. and we need your help to make it a success.

Here is an audio file that accompanies the presentation.  (Jim is not smart enough to link the two together, so we will go low tech).

https://soundcloud.com/jim-mahar-1/audio-for-liberia-presentation

Update on Ebola Payments

English: Countries where Médecins Sans Frontières has Missions. Data from http://www.msf.org/ of the year 2009 Nederlands: Landen waar Artsen zonder Grenzen actief is. Gegevens van http://www.msf.org/ over het jaar 2009 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Finished making the latest round of   payments today to groups working to help those affected by Ebola from our  #EndEbola leaf raking project.

Donations.  $1,870 raised.
Payments to date: $1792.


Donations that have been made:  $980 to CYC Liberia, $250 to Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), $200 to Partners In Health,  $100 to  Medicus Christi, Ltd. , $100 to Catholic Relief Services , and  $100 to  CitiHope International.

Total raised to date: $1,870.  Total paid out:  $1730 + Western Union fees: $62 = $1,792.   (BonaResponds donated the gas and the rakes--including two that were broken on the event).


So currently have $78 left from the program and we expect to use this for the CYC orphanage in Monrovia.  Soon.  THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED IN ANYWAY-from raking to donating, to even spreading the word!

Update: after posting this we do have another donation coming in.  Will post it when we receive it.  

Related articles

• Chinese team arrives in Liberia to man Ebola clinic
• Update III on #EndEboa
• Liberian priest: Spread of Ebola leaving people trapped
• Ebola Was Here

Update III on #EndEboa

As promised, another update: 

Total pledged: $1712 

We sent the first $500 via Western Union (cost $20) this week and it was picked up today in Monrovia Liberia by Bishop Nelson.  It will be used to help CYC there feed orphans and others affected by Ebola.   This is a big win!  :)

This weekend $250 more will be sent to Doctors Without Boarders, $150 to Partners in Heath, $100 each to Catholic Relief Services and Medicuschristi.   

After that, we will send the rest by the end of the coming week. 

A few pledges have yet to be received, so if we raked your leaves (or other work the past two weekends) or if you just want to give to help those on the front lines of Ebola, now is the time. You can donate via http://BonaResponds.org BUT SINCE I WILL NOT KNOW FOR A WEEK, PLEASE reply as well so we can send the rest of the money this weekend.  (THANKS!) 

We looked into sending CYC and BR shirts as they have wished, but UPS was WAY too expensive (about $300 for a few shirts), so we will look for other ways, or just not send them. 

Pictures and more of the project are available here: 

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

Turn up your volume:  

I will leave you with an audio thank you/update from Bishop Nelson himself:

https://soundcloud.com/jim-mahar-1/bishop-nelson-thank-you  

(the audio gets better after about the first 1/3)

THANK You again everyone!

jim 

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"

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/

Related articles

• Help #EndEbola!
• You can make a difference!
• More UK troops to tackle Ebola in Sierra Leone

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!  )

Related articles

• Seeing Ebola first-hand: Missionary shares her story
• Notice Board Announcement

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

Related articles

• Can U.S. soldiers fight Ebola spread?
• Ebola: US troops battle invisible enemy in Liberia - CNN

Great video of us packing 113,184 meals!

Coverage of our event:
AmazingAerialPhotos.com's Michael Kintner made a really cool video of the day. Here is it.




WIVB Channel 4  and WGRZ each have some pictures but no video online.




We will post pictures later in the day (time to run now, and then go work for a bit (remember we are meeting at 10:30 behind Murphy).

Notice Board Announcement of weekend activities

BonaResponds is having two events this Saturday and would love to have your help!

On Saturday from 10-4 at the Living Waters Church (on State Street near Tim Hortons) we will be having a car wash and clothing sale/Garage Sale for Haiti. HCC has have well over one thousand pieces of clothes (some breand new and easily worth $40 dollars, and also some prom dresses that are worth well over $100). All will be sold at less than $3 each. Also as part of this day we will be collecting school supplies, used computers, and soccer balls for schools and orphanages in Haiti.

We will also be working with CYC (Christian Youth Corps) and Allegany Nordic to work in Allegany State Park. With the State Budget Cuts the Quaker area of Allegany State Park has been targeted to close. After talking with park officials, it is the hope that if the park can be partially maintained by volunteers that it will be allowed to stay open. Thus we have teamed up with CYC (who had done this last year as well) to help paint cabins, work on trails, etc. We will be leaving Murphy at 9:30 on Saturday for this job.

The original plan was not to have both jobs this weekend, but bad weather last month (it rained and snowed the weekend it was scheduled) forced the moving of the car wash/garage sale to now. As a result with finals and some people already going home, we will REALLY NEED VOLUNTEERS.

Please come out. Email BonaResponds@sbu.edu for more information.

thanks!

Allegany State Park this Weekend!

There are few (if any) groups I would rather team up with than CYC. Pete and crew are so organized and so good that I learn from them every time we work together.

This weekend they are having a big work weekend in Allegany State Park. We'd love to give them a hand.

It is finals time at SBU, AND we already had a car wash/garage sale scheduled, so we really need community members to come out and help. Remember if we don't do anything, we can not complain if the State closes parts of the Park next year. So come on out. It will be fun!


2010 ASP S. Op's Flyer

Our Crutches in Haiti? I think so!

As we get ready to send our next shipment of crutches and other supplies (remember we are also sending used computers--they will be fixed up, all memory swapped out etc, tents, school supplies, and soccer balls in addition to collecting money for food), Pete of CYC found this picture of what looks like some of the crutches we donated last time getting to Haiti.

"The Portlight Relief Team unloads crutches shipped from Portlight's warehouse in Atlanta to a staging area at University Quisqeya, Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The relief team consists of ten Haitians being coordinated by Haitian-American Richard Lumarque, Portlight's on-site coordinator in Haiti. The relief team has been working full-time over the past week doing aid work."

Wow. What a find!

It is about 3/4 of the way down this Wunderblog site that does weather and other things.