A Thank you from a former Allegany Resident

Image by Bona_Responds via FlickrOne year ago to the week BonaResponds was very busy in flood clean up.  Today I was reminded of the great work that the volunteers did when Sr. Margaret (SBU president) forwarded the following email.  I took the woman's name off of it since I did not have permission to share, BUT I will say that I know the job and it was one that was REALLY cool since several people from Gowanda (a town that was flooded the year before where BonaResponds made many trips to--they are wearing the green shirts) came over to help. 

Email in its entirety (except name)

Sr. Margaret,

I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you and congratulations for a job well done!!!  let me explain.
As an alumni, I am proud to say I graduated with my 1st Masters degree from St. Bonaventure.  Knowing I was born
and raised in Allegany, this makes me even more proud to know the university is involved and dedicated to the
community in a positive manner.

It was a while back now, during the last flooding that Allegany experienced.  My brother lives on Union Street in
our family's homestead.  It was always a wonderful place to live; however, the one challenge we always had was the
flooding of the Allegheny River. During the last flooding, my brother did get water, not only around the house, but
the basement, garage and almost into the house.  He had just had a hip replacement and was unable to prepare for the
flooding as normal.

When the water receded, he had damage to some walls, the furnace, and much of the insulation.  Being that I no longer
live in New York, I was unable to get there to help him out, but he said to me that everything was under control.  I
asked him what he meant by this.  He told me that several St. Bonaventure students were there and assisting him.  These
students worked very hard and were dedicated to helping him out.  They did a wonderful job.
I understand the  university has formed an organization to assist the community in this manner. 

Kudos to these students and all that they do!!!!  Kudos to the St. Bonaventure as well!!!!

Thank you!!!

2009 in review - ObserverToday.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Community Information - Dunkirk | The Observer

2009 in review - ObserverToday.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Community Information - Dunkirk | The Observer:

"Many others did not have to wait for a call to come in and help, however. Volunteer groups including Americorps, BonaResponds and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief offered able bodies to aid recovery and national organizations such as the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and Hands-On Disaster Relief helped with not only personal needs, but organizing the sea of paperwork required when a disaster strikes. When these organizations left, many matters were left in the hands of the locally-operated Tri-County Disaster Recovery Group.

Some sense of normalcy had returned to the flood-affected areas by September. Silver Creek and Gowanda schools opened on time, some roads reopened and even a few celebrations were organized. Evidence of the flooding and its effect on communities still remains, however, and likely will through 2010.

According to the Tri-County Disaster Recovery Group in early December 2009, more than 250 homes throughout the area were found to have sustained substantial damage, with more than 40 outright destroyed."

BonaResponds-October 2009 video

A video of SOME of the work we did in October 2009.



Yes I cut the length of this. One section of the original version (still available here) was repeated.

Jim's speech in Gowanda

Jim gave a speech at the Recovery Celebration in Gowanda.

Gowanda Essay: Thanks for being here

October 9: Remember back 6 weeks ago I said I would be writing a series of reflective essays about our work in Gowanda? Well, between school starting, other BonaResponds events, a finance club trip to NYC, and some family things, I got side tracked. But I would like to share at least of the thoughts with you, so I will write them up as time permits.


Gowanda August 23, 2009

BonaResponds has traveled the country to help people recover after natural disasters. After these disasters we have helped people by gutting houses, cutting downed trees, putting on new roofs, building sheds, drywalling, painting, and even occasionally helping people move back into their refurbished homes. The interesting thing is, that almost without exception, those we are helping tell us, generally fighting back tears, that our just being there was as important as the work we actually accomplished. That our presence gave them hope and the energy energy necessary to fight the next round of battles in the long road to recovery.

This message has been drilled into volunteers on every trip: talking to the survivors, listening to their stories, and just being there is important. As the leader of BonaResponds, I understood the importance, but I confess I never truly believed it. Oh sure, I knew psychology mattered and talking helped, but the real real reason for us being there, the way we really helped, was the dirty, physical work. Or so I believed.

Today that view was forever changed. I was on the other side of receiving help. I had over-committed BonaResponds. Expecting more volunteers that we got, I committed to several jobs around town, but the first (and largest) was mucking out an enormous basement down on Main St.

After about 2 hours of struggling with the eight inches of mud that blanketed the three giant rooms, it became apparent that we were not going to be able to finish the job, let alone the others that were waiting.

And then, almost miraculously, help arrived in the form of the Community Gang #103 from the Collins Correctional Facility. And a funny thing happened, as the crew lifted buckets of mud, they also lifted out spirits. As they pushed wheel barrows, they pushed us to do more.

Sooner than could have been imagined, the job was done. As we all shared a meal on the front porch, we thanked the work crew for all the help. I hope they realize we were thanking them for more than just the physical effort. We were thanking them for being there and for giving us the energy to continue on to the next job.

Video from Gowanda by Courtney Young

Only a High School Student, Courtney captures what the aftermath of the storm was like very well:

Nice comment from a Gowanda resident!

The Bona Venture:

"I have to say I was truly touched to know that Bonaventure students came and helped the day after the flood and are continuing to help. I saw 2 'BonaResponds' signs out in front of houses when I was walking down the street and my heart was so happy. I am a 2004 graduate of Bona's and am now a Special Education Teacher in the Gowanda Central School District. It makes me tear-up a little...Seeing Bonavenure continuing to help rebuilding and helping fix basements is heartwarming, because many, many, many people are going to need help well into the fall to prepare there home for the winter. I hate seeing houses empty and wish those people could move back in, but when the foundation of your home moved .... Thank You Bonaventure, Thank You Thank You Thank You - Grace"

From a comment left on the BV website!

This weekend is going to be HUGE!

This Weekend is the originally planned BonaResponds Local Service Weekend. The flooding in Gowanda has changed the make-up of the day substantially, but we will be having possibly our biggest event ever. We will be teaming up with Villa Maria and Alfred State.

• What? Two days of good work
• Where? All over! Saturday will focus on Gowanda and Salamanca.
• What type of work? In Gowanda we will be finishing house demolition, mudding out two basements, and hauling debris out of two other homes. We will also have a crew working with the Red Cross in moving, santizing, and restoring the emergency cots that were used in this crisis. In addition we will doing some tree removal and rotor-tilling a couple of the worst hit yards. We will also be working with the Catt. County Emergency Operations Center on compiling disaster statistics necessary for FEMA.
• In Salamanca: we will be painting a house for an 83 year old woman who has had numerous health issues. This job is a special request through the Department of Aging. It was a "pre-flood" job.
  

On Sunday work includes: insulation of a trailer in Hinsdale, putting in "flashing" and insulation below the house we built in Friendship, some "tree" jobs, helping at a few local charities, trail work on the Bob's Woods Trails, and several other jobs depending on the weather and volunteer turnout.


What time? We will leave SBU on 10:00 on Saturday (so be there at 9:40 to fill out paper work) The day will end (in Gowanda) with a BBQ and picnic for all volunteers (so BonaResponds, Alfred State, and Villa Maria plus those from Gowanda) It should be VERY good.

On Sunday, the we will leave at 11:00. At 5:00 there will be a BBQ on campus for all involved on either day.

FAQ:
Is it open to me? Yes. If you are breathing, we can find you work.

Do I have to come to both days? We'd love you to, but no, come for as long (or as little) as you want.

What to wear? On Saturday in particular come dressed for very dirty work (may want to bring a change of clothes). Mudding out basement is dirty work. Also gloves and boots. All participants on Saturday must have had a tetanus shot in the past 5 years.

Can I bring my parents? Yes Friends? Yes. All BonaResponds events are open to everyone!

What if I can't come? Tell your friends to come. If you want to donate for gas or for tools etc, let us know.

We would love a few people to be able to work Sunday evening to help clean up and to cook. It will take some of the burden off of the student leaders.

How many people do you expect? We are expecting about 100 on Saturday and probably about 50 on Sunday.

Is there anything you particularly need? Materials wise: paint brushes and rollers.
Non materially: drivers, transportation, and leaders (especially anyone to take ownership of the paint job!)

Gowanda calls, Bona Responds - Features

Here is the BV article on BonaResponds

Gowanda calls, Bona Responds - Features:

"'That was one of the biggest things we had to do: Dig the mud out of the basement,' Mahar said. 'You have this much mud, and there's no way to get it out except with a bucket, so you put it in a bucket and carry it up the stairs, dump that out and do it over and over and over again. For the first two weeks, we were hauling mud, hauling debris.'"

More Pictures and video from Gowanda

Carrie uploaded quite a few pictures from her two trips with us to Gowanda.

Here is a slideshow of them.

Leadership by example

This is the first of a series of somewhat reflective pieces on the work in Gowanda. They are not so much about the actual work, but the lessons learned and the good that came out of the storm.


As leader of BonaResponds I have seen many too many natural disasters--From Katrina to Ike, from the Buffalo Ice Storm to Tornadoes and floods across much of the Eastern half of the US. In responding to these disasters, I have learned so much. I have learned to push my limits, I have to learned that the world is full of people who are willing to help when the need arises. This learning process does not end, so at the risk of sounding too much life a university professor (I teach finance at St. Bonaventure University as my day job), this is the first of a series of semi-reflective pieces that will center on Gowanda, but go much further than that. I hope you enjoy.

We all know leadership is more than a title. Management gurus and books preach that you have to lead by example. The first of our lessons will deal with that and it is an example that speaks volumes without saying a word.

1. Leadership by example:

The first lesson has on Philadelphia Street. Philadelphia Street (Route 62) was one of the worst hit areas in Gowanda. Water rushed down the hill and flooded most of the basements. We got this job by asking some neighbors who said that the elderly woman who lived there could use some help emptying out years of memories (to say nothing of water and mud) from here basement.

When we arrived, much of the work in the front two rooms had already been done by family, neighbors, and Mike and Wendy two volunteers from Springville. But that is not to say there was no work. There were still many damaged personal items and a washer and dryer to remove and take to the curb. Additionally there was still some water in the furnace room and the rooms had to be washed down..

For efficiency reasons and because of the stairway (basements are a pain) we decided to do an assembly line/bucket brigade where the items would be handed up to the outside.

With the line there are places where you want to be and where you don't want to be. For instance, standing outside in the sun and fresh air is much preferred to standing on the steps, or worse at the very start of the line. It is at the start where you are still standing in water, where you you to pick up each of the the wet dirty items, and weigh the costs of salvage vs the memories lost before deciding to throw the item out or set it aside to save.

In this position, at the very front of the line was Sr. Margaret Carney, the president of St. Bonaventure University. The single person on campus who has more time demands than anyone else. The person whose time is more valuable than anyone else. The person who had to be in Pittsburgh PA later than evening. She had set aside all of the excuses and came with BonaResponds to help. She was there without press releases, without cameras (well except ours), and without any hint of being above the work. Working side by side with students, flood victims, and volunteers off the streets. She was there to help.

NY Senator in HODR Command Center

NY Senator in HODR Command Center
Originally uploaded by Hands On Disaster Response.

VERY Impressive...Shumer in the volunteer center in Gowanda with Bill Driscoll of HODR.

some pictures from Jen from Gowanda

Here are some pictures Jen has uploaded as well.

Gowanda this Fri-Saturday

Saturday-Remember this Sat. Volunteer to help in Gowanda. Leaving SBU at 9:00. Meeting at Aldrich Elementary at 10:30. come and help!

Friday just came up--work begins at 10. Meet at Aldrich Elementary (across the street).

YouTube - Why BonaResponds is needed

YouTube - Why BonaResponds is needed: "A brief video showing what it is like when we scout a house. This is from Gowanda. It shows the process and also hints at the enormity of the task and why volunteers are needed."

Hundreds of pictures from Gowanda today

Mike, Matt, and Lionel
Originally uploaded by FinanceProfessor.

Here is the whole set--although I still have one camera's worth left! Many good pictures, but so so much good work! Excellent work everyone. You really were impressive!

Where we are meeting and Open letter to volunteer

Here is a map of Gowanda and the elementary school


View Larger Map




Just a reminder to everyone that BonaResponds will be in Gowanda today through Sunday and could really use some help.

I realize it is one of the last summer weekends but there is a great deal of work and these really are our neighbors and in many cases classmates.

Walking the streets in Gowanda I was regularly meeting SBU alumni and families that were in need of help from the flooding.

And being there really does make a difference. one small quote from a Jamestown Street woman we spoke with earlier this week:

"My basement is waiting the arrival of the St. Bona Group on Sunday....
Since talking with you and your team, I have built confidence that my
basement will once again be restored......thanks
to a dedicated team of professionals from St. Bona'"


So, even if you can only spare a few hours. Gowanda is close and centrally located between Olean, Buffalo, Jamestown, and even Erie.

There is a place to sleep if you want to stay the nights. Food will be provided.



Leaving SBU (from Murphy)

Friday 10:00
Saturday 10:00


meet in Gowanda at the Aldrich Elementary school just down from the Fire Dept
Friday 11:30
Sat 11:30
Sunday 9:30


There is MUCH more info plus sign ups forms, waivers, and a whole series of videos etc at our blog (http://BonaResponds.Blogspot.com) and website: http://BonaResponds.org


I really hope some of you can make it out. After seeing the videos I am pretty sure you will realize the damage is great and the need is high.

Hope to see many of you this weekend.


thanks...

jim

http://BonaResponds.org
http://BonaResponds.blogspot.com
http://Twitter.com/BonaResponds

Two Gowanda Videos from TV

News4 video:




and then another on the good news on water!

What to bring?

To work in Gowanda:

Boots
Sunblock
Gloves
Cameras
cellphone

(here is a list from past trips which I suggest you look at to at least gauge what you might want.)

If you have a BonaResponds shirt, we'd love you to wear it.

We will have PB and Jelly and some water but you probably want to bring food as well for lunch on Friday.

Water is in short supply there so let's not be a burden and bring our own water.

We will provide food on Sat Night and Sunday AM.

If you are staying Saturday night, obviously bring toiletries, sleeping bag, etc. The living quarters will be very basic (but honestly that makes it more fun).


We will be bringing:

Shovles, sump pumps, extension cords, lights, a chain saw, gutting equipment.

Donations to Gowanda

TO DONATE:

Donations of water, food, and furniture will be accepted 12-5 (times may change) at the Elementary School on Aldrich. Heather will be in charge.


Things most needed:

1. Bottled water
2. Linens (I guess sheets?)
3. Furniture
4. Appliance (Washers and dryers esp)
5. SOME? clothes.
   

What are needs? You tell us. (This is for people affected by the flood to ask. There are no guarantees but if your request is known, there is more of a chance of getting it.)








PLEASE go light on clothes. In every disaster I have been at an overabundance of clothes have been donated. Most of them have been thrown out and all of them have taken much time for volunteers.


there will be changes in this in a few minutes. THIS LINK WILL REMAIN AND BE UPDATED.