Couple of work days at the Cattaraugus County SPCA

Mowed the play areas and developed plans for future projects that will both make it easier for SPCA employees to care for the dogs as well as allow more dogs to be outside at any given point.  WIN!

 Here is the "after" being used by a dog.

 This is a mini trail behind the play areas.  It needs some dirt.  Anyone want to donate a pickup truck full?  We will use it!

 A before picture of the fourth play area

 A small beach head is achieved.

A bit bigger

and the finished product:

oh a Snake!

Another dog playing in the newly cut area:

Earth Week + National Volunteer week = Great River Clean up!

What great timing!  It's National Volunteer Week and Earth Week.  So let's combine the two!  And voila, we volunteer to clean up the environment!

This Saturday (April 21) BonaResponds will be cleaning along the Allegheny River and Olean Creek.  Why?  Not only does garbage in the river and along the banks look bad, it also gets into the oceans and can cause major health problems to wildlife.

Here is a great presentation that Melissa put together on the River Clean up:


Get the Litter Out of the River!


and here is a video (a few years old) that shows the problems of plastics reaching the ocean:

So get out and help!  

 

10 AM Saturday from Franchot Park

 

 

Related articles

• Earth Week 2012 Challenges: 7 Eco-Friendly Tips You Can Practice With HuffPost ... - Huffington Post

• GO GREEN! Get ready for Earth Day 2012 (environmentaleducationuk.wordpress.com)

Our last big service weekend of the semester

Image by Bona_Responds via FlickrWhile we will be working throughout the summer, a late Easter, Spring Break, Finals, and a trip to Camden NJ/Philly, this Saturday and Sunday will be our last big service weekend when classes are in session.

We have about 10 jobs lined up from finished a wheelchair ramp in Salamanca, to a house clean out in Allegany, Helping spruce up Oak Hill Park in Olean, painting at the SPCA, to a flood clean up job in Portville.  With that many jobs we need many volunteers.  So if you are able, come help either Saturday (10am behind Murphy) or Sunday (10:30 AM behind Murphy). 


Signup at http://bonaresponds.blogspot.com/2011/03/bonaresponds-in-april.html

Also we still have some spots left for our trip to Camden but they will likely fill this week, so if you plan on going, sign up ASAP also at http://bonaresponds.blogspot.com/2011/03/bonaresponds-in-april.html

BonaResponds to help local flood victims but we need your help!

Help your neighbors

This Sunday BonaResponds will be organizing a work day to help local flood victims cleanout flooded basements and they need your help.

Last week’s floods affected many local households leaving behind flooded basements and lawns covered with debris.  BonaResponds, a volunteer organization that has responded to Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and fires in 13 states and has sent over 30 pallets of supplies to Haiti after the January Earthquake, will be helping locally to clean up after the flood.

This past weekend BonaResponds cleaned out 4 basements and tarped a trailer whose roof had been damaged by the winds that accompanied the storm. 

“Despite the cold and snow, the work this past weekend went very well.  We had a group come over from Gowanda.  We helped them last year when their town was flooded and this year they returned the favor.  It really was a pretty heart warming story,” BonaResponds leader Jim Mahar

said.

The SBU based volunteer organization expected more jobs this weekend because the water is down and insurance companies having had a week to assess the damage.  “Last week we were a bit early and could not even get to some jobs because of high water.  This week we may be a few days late, but with work during the week it is the best we can do.  We have already heard from eight homeowners in Allegany, Portville, and Hinsdale for this weekend and I am sure we will get more later in the week” Mahar added. 

But there is a problem:  A need for volunteers.   BonaResponds’ student leader Steve Gearhart put it like this: “There is no good time for a flood, but this one is particularly bad since we have finals.  I am extremely busy this week.  But the need is here so BonaResponds will do what we can so we really could use the help of local residents.  Like they said in Gowanda last year, it will be ‘Neighbor helping Neighbor.’” 

BonaResponds will help anyone who was flooded but priority will be given to the elderly and disabled.  All labor is free but the homeowner is asked to provide any necessary supplies (for instance if sheetrock (drywall) needs to be replaced that is the responsibility of the homeowner).

Any homeowner who needs help is encouraged to contact the Cattaraugus County EOC office at 716-938-2244 who will be helping to schedule jobs.  “It is great working with them.  They have made our jobs much easier as they can help to organize and screen jobs which saves us time to just work,” said Jen Mahar who has been handling scheduling of the clean up jobs for BonaResponds.

BonaResponds alumni leader Nate O’Lay added “We really like it when we get to work with the home owners. Even if they can do it themselves, why not call and get some help?  It makes the job much more meaningful for all involved.  And if we can save the homeowner some time, very often that person will then come with us to the next job to help.  It is a fun way to build community and as the saying goes ‘many hands make light work’”.

To volunteer please register at http://BonaResponds.org.  The work day will begin Sunday at 10:30 from the Murphy parking lot on the far west side of campus. BonaResponds is open to all.  Under 16 must be accompanied by an adult and under 18 must have parental permission (form is available at http://BonaResponds.org).  Dress warmly in layers and expect to get wet feet. 

BonaResponds will provide lunch and a light meal back at campus at 4:30 for all volunteers and homeowners.   If anyone would like to donate food, hot chocolate or coffee to the volunteers, these can be dropped off at Murphy at 10:30 or email BonaResponds@gmail.com to arrange a drop-off at a work site.

Livestrong Weekend

October 2-3rd. 



BonaResponds will be holding a local service weekend in conjunction with the National Livestrong Day. We will have volunteers working at multiple sites across the area. As part of the Livestrong Day our focus will be on helping Cancer survivors.

If you know of any cancer survivor (or current patient) that needs some free help, be it mowing the yard, raking leaves (although early October might be a bit early), painting, or fixing a porch, or who know what, we would like to help.

But we need your help. Before we can help, we need to know who needs the help. So if you know of a cancer survivor who lives within 45 minutes of Olean that could use a little helping hand, please let us know! 


 

This Weekend (Labor Day weekend)

Mini-service Weekend
Not a huge event, but we do need some volunteers

• On Friday at 5:30 Working on Bob's Wood's trails. Depending on how many show up, work will include mowing, chain sawing, and sign painting.   
• Saturday -taking down an old ramp and maybe doing some painting (depending on how many show up and weather)
• Sunday we will be going over to Randolph to work on a wheelchair ramp.  Leave 10:30 from Murphy, return about 6 each day.  (yes you can drive if you want to come back early) 

ok, I confess I am in a miserable mood.  The only way I know how to help lift myself out of the duldrums is to work harder, So while we had planned on working one day this weekend anyways, we might as well add two more since the work needs to be done and I will be there anyways, AND  would love to have some company!

This weekend

THIS WEEKEND: TWO BONARESPONDS EVENTS

On Saturday we will be teaming up with RebuildingTogether (formerly Christmas in April) in Olean to help paint up to 5 different homes in the Olean area. We have been given our own home to paint in the N. Olean/Homer Hill area. We also would like to continue our work on the home of the WW II veteran as well. The work day is a bit earlier than normal. It starts at 8 a.m.; meet at the Murphy Building. It would be a great day to come and make a difference in the Olean group!

On Sunday we will be working in Buffalo on the home of Sal and Justin. Justin is a 13-year-old boy with Down syndrome and is almost completely paralyzed and cannot get outside unless his dad (Sal) carries him. BonaResponds has teamed with Cricket Communications, WNY Make a Wish, and Buffalo Hospice, to remodel a house to allow him to get in and out the house.

We have been really short on volunteers. We will be leaving at Murphy at 10. (You can also meet us at the house at 11:30).  

 

Also, mark your calendars for a great event Sept. 11 that will feed 100,000 Haitians.

BonaResponds helps locally and internationally

Image via Wikipedia

I just sent the following to the SBU Notice-Board.  We'd love more volunteers, so if you can lend a hand it would be very much appreciated!




BonaResponds helps locally

On each of the next two weekends BonaResponds will be having workdays locally.

This Sunday (July 18th) we will be working at the home of a local World War II combat veteran (he was in the Ardennes Forest during the battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944-1945).  We have agreed to help paint and fix up around his house.  We will be working from 11:30 to 3:30.  Depending on how far we get, work will include scraping, maybe priming, puttying windows, and more.  This is a great job and a great way to thank a Veteran who fought to help save the world from Hitler. 

Then Next Saturday (July 24th) we will have another work day.  As part of this year's RebuildingTogether project (formerly Christmas in April), we will be helping them paint four houses on the same day.  BonaResponds has been given (by Charlie who has volunteered with us locally as well as on two Gulf Coast Trips) our own house to paint. The house (which is quite small) is that of an elderly couple who have had some financial difficulties.
 
IF we get done early, we plan on going back to work on the WW II Veteran's house after.


BonaResponds Helps Internationally
Our first large shipment (other than what JustRespond volunteers took with them in May) of school supplies will be shipped soon.  We want them to be there when school starts!  We have several hundred notebooks, pens, pencils, and crayons, but would love more.  As many of you know, we have adopted several Haitian Schools in and around Leogane.  Both the Boys School (about 300 students) and the Girls School (St. Rose de Lima--almost 700 students) were totally destroyed by the Earthquake and now hold classes in UN supplied tents.  On the May JustRespond trip we met with them (I even tried to teach two classes--Math and English) and both the teachers and the the "principals" (they called themselves Headmaster and Headmastress) said that school supplies (and a computer to help run the schools) are their biggest needs (other than new buildings!). 

So please help.  You can drop off notebooks, pencils, crayons, calculators (solar is best), used computers, and backpacks at either my office (231 Murphy--leave with Jen Spencer as I am rarely there) or at the Allegany Park and Shop.  We hope to ship soon, so please drop off as your earliest convenience.

Olean Theater Workshop Variety Show: Make Joyful Noise

The Olean Theater Workshop proudly presents “Make a Joyful Noise”, a benefit to help feed the children of Haiti, at The Washington Street Theatre located at corner of Sixth and Washington Streets in Olean, NY. There will be three performances, Friday April 30 at 7:00 PM, Saturday, May 1 at 2:00 PM and Sunday, May 2 at at 7:00 PM.

Hear 29 local youths raise their voices in songs from musicals and movies to help raise awareness and funds for Haiti. The two act presentation will feature twenty five thrilling Broadway show tunes and favorite old time hits.

All proceeds will be donated to” Food for Haiti Now” through BonaResponds. It cost 17 cents to send a meal to Haiti. Therefore, the suggested donation for t the benefit show will be $5 which will send approximately 30 meals to Haiti. The goal for the benefit is to raise $850 which will provide 5000 meals.

The local youths performing in the benefit are Becca Lasky, Miles Marvin, Kaitlin Harvey, Amber Kolodjeski, Kaitlyn Anastasia, Sarah Stephan, Karimah Rahman, Emily Putzke, Nicole Sova, Steve Ahl, Shawn Bihler, Chris Mosher, Michael Liu, Alexis Sova, Emily Smith, Madison Forrest, Kendall Ullman, Tyler Richmond, Nicholas Patrone, Natalie Sova, Mariah Moses, Jazlyn Knapp, Emma Dwailabee, Kaitlyn Patrone, Haley Putzke, Julia Rakus, Rajiv Thandla, Joe Reed, and Karalyn Anastasia. This project was directed by Mckenzie Forrest, and assisted by Laura Roblee, Adam Sorokes and Arden Avery ,all members of the Cattaraugus County Youth Bureau’s AmeriCorps program, in conjunction with the Olean Theater Workshop and the Liberty Partnership Program at Olean High School.

It is not often that a small donation can do so much. Only 17 cents pays for an entire meal, while $4.25 provides 25 meals, $8.50 provides 50 meals, $17 provides 100 meals, $34 provides 200 meals and $50 provides 294 meals. A donation of $100 provides 588 meals, or will feed one child for well over a year and a half.

For further information, please visit us on the web at www.oleanworkshop.org or by phone at 716-373-SHOW (7469). If you can’t make the show please send donation to Olean Theater Workshop, Food For Haiti Now! 702 Washington Street, Olean, NY 14760. Make checks payable to BonaResponds.

Notice Board Announcement for Thurs

BonaResponds This weekend and Next!

So many good things, so little time.

1. This Saturday (weather pending) BonaResponds will team up with the Living Waters Church with a car Wash and Garage Sale (mainly a $2 clothing sale--Over 1000 items of clothes with most of it donated from local schools and even SBU students so much of it is in good shape). Saturday 10-4 (rain date Sunday 12-4) If the weather is too bad, on Saturday we will go to Bradford and help build a wheelchair ramp for a man who recently lost his leg in a work accident.

2. This next two weeks signals a transition for BonaResponds. Our emphasis will move from collecting walkers and crutches) to collecting tents, and school supplies/computers. As many of you know BonaResponds has adopted an orphanage! Ok, so the word adopts is too strong, really what we are doing is supplying them with school supplies (notebooks, pencils, pens, crayons, backbacks). This is a tremendous opportunity to help. The notebooks do not need to be new (but we as that there be a substantial amount of unused paper!).

3. New this week! We are working with various groups (most notably Robert Obas and the New Haiti Project) to collect, repair, and ship new and used computers to schools, Churches, and orphanages i n Haiti. this has the potential to make a HUGE impact to the people of Haiti for a long time. The computers must have processor speed of AT LEAST 1.4ghz and can not be older than 5-6 years old. We will ship to Massachusetts where a group will clean, fix, and ship. These supplies can be dropped off at the garage sale/Car wash or email us at BonaResponds@Gmail.com to arrange a pick-up.

4. And finally, next weekend is going to be awesome. From a camp-out (tent collection!!) and bonfire, to over 20 jobs in and around Olean/Bradford. We need Many volunteers!! Actually Many Many volunteers!! Seriously if you have thought about volunteering but for whatever reason have held off, next weekend is going to be a grand-finale for the semester....see http://bonaresponds.org/lsd.html for more info.

Or to sign up see:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=cEExRHZVWTR0dzByQklnODh1cGhPVXc6MA..

Local Service Weekend letter

On Saturday April 23-25, 2010 BonaResponds will be holding a local service weekend. We will have volunteers working at multiple sites across the area. We generally get about 100+ volunteers that come out, break into teams and go out and volunteer in the community at various sites.

The volunteers will meet at 10:00 AM at the Murphy Auditorium on the west side of the St. Bonaventure Campus. From there we will break into smaller work groups that will spread out across the region where they will do everything from picking up trash, to making trails, to painting, to landscaping, and putting up drywall.

Many of the volunteers have experience from weeks in the Gulf Coast, in Gowanda, and in Atlanta after floods etc. However to some volunteers this will be their first experience with volunteering. While we believe that serving others can be an important contributor to their personal growth and happiness, it only happens if the volunteers get involved, so we do want to make it a good experience for all involved.

We are writing to ask two things:

1. Would people from your group would like to be involved as volunteers? These local events work SO MUCH better when our volunteers work side by side with people from “town”. It means more to them, they can share stories, and more work gets done. So we’d love to have volunteers from your organization. Everyone can do something. From driving, to taking pictures, to serving food, to even explaining why it is important work etc.
2. If your organization needs any help. While due to an uncertain number of volunteers (most just sign up the day of the event) and weather, we can not guarantee we will be able to help, in the VAST majority of cases we have been able to accomplish what has been asked. We would like it to be a “special” need. For instance, we are not really designed to do regular cleaning etc, but if you have a special project that will allow your organization to better serve the local community (paint, remodel, organization, big clean up, etc), we’d love to be involved.

For planning purposes (we need to know how many sites to have), the earlier we know the better we will be able to serve you.

We really can not stress enough that we’d love to work with your volunteers. If the past is any indicator, this works MUCH better as we provide energy and numbers while your volunteers can provide maturity, know-how, and even more importantly motivation. Knowing why something needs to be done, or even just that it makes a difference is really what gets more work done. For this reason, we are asking that at least one person from your organization be in attendance if you are asking for help.

Please email me at BonaResponds@sbu.edu AND BonaResponds@gmail.com (spam filters have caused problems before so I like the redundancy of multiple email accounts). Or feel free to call me at 585.376.0231.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to working with you.

Jim Mahar

BonaResponds

How International Service Day will work locally (from SBU)

While many events will be going on around the globe, in Western NY we also have a full schedule locally!

The majority of volunteers from the local area will be going to Buffalo. It will be a full day of volunteering at more than 10 sites. This will be out of Villa Maria where Kim Kotz and her Villa Volunteers have done an excellent job of organizing the events. For more info on the events in Buffalo click here.

However, in the Olean area we will also have several events going on. These can be full day jobs or partial day if you can not make it for the entire day.

We will be meeting at 8:25 AM Saturday(vans leave as close to 8:30 as possible) in the Aud in Murphy.

A PARTIAL Olean jobs List includes:

1. Red Cross' Storm the Mall--Disaster Preparedness Fair.
   
2. American Red Cross Blood Drive
3. Olean Theater Workshop
4. Bartlett House helping to organize storage
   
5. Street Clean up--Union St. in Allegany
6. River Road "Bend" clean up
   
7. Street Clean up--By the Waters Nursing Home in Olean
8. Field clean up--By the Lacrosse-Softball Field/Bob's Woods Pond on Campus

More jobs to be announced as soon as they are finalized.

BonaResponds International Service Weekend coverage in OTH

Service Day Spreading Across the Globe

"BonaResponds is organizing this but it’s open to anyone,” said Jim Mahar, St. Bonaventure associate professor of finance and founder of BonaResponds. Volunteers can help people with tasks that are as simple as walking a dog and grocery shopping to building house or working in a soup kitchen.

“An alumnus from Chicago, Tom Cullen, sort of suggested they would do a volunteer day to correspond with one of our days, at which point we said why not do this globally,” Mr. Mahar said in explaining the genesis of the project. “We just started spreading the word and people keep signing up for it."

Read all of it here.

BonaResponds Buffalo and Olean March 27th

A special signup for those volunteering in either Olean or Buffalo on March 27th. (if you want to volunteer elsewhere on those days see here.

BonaResponds and storm Pictures (August 9, 2009)

East Olean near East View
Originally uploaded by FinanceProfessor.

Here are some pictures of the first round of storms that hit WNY on August 9, 2009.

From Friendship and Olean/Allegany.

BonaResponds will continue helping with the clean-up (priority given to elderly, handicapped so if you know of anyone who fits that description, let BonaResponds know).

Likewise, if you would like to volunteer to help, email BonaResponds@sbu.edu

Some Site updates from Yesetrday

New Trail Work
Originally uploaded by Nif.

Yesterday we had just over 60 volunteers working at 8 sites around the area. These included continuing the building on two homes in Allegany County and making trails through Bob's Woods.

Here are some reports from the Site leaders:

From Ashley who worked on a really cool time line of the history of BonaResponds since Katrina. VERY GOOD!

"We spent the October 4th local service day
collaborating ideas, words and pictures into a great time line that spanned the lifetime of BonaResponds. We had a little bit of trouble finding an open computer lab and had to switch a couple time, but it made the day that much more interesting. We spent several hours working on the computers, collecting information and pictures and bouncing ideas off each other and finally printing everything we needed for the time line. Before we hung the time line up in the RC, we took a short lunch
break. Hanging the time line proved to be an interesting experience as well but working together and sharing ideas we got the job done."

Update from Bob's Woods Team (Jen was the leader on this one)

"We spent the first part of the day working on various parts of trail maintenance in Bob's Woods: filling holes along the trails, especially on the dike sections, clearing branches, cutting out stumps and roots on the trails that were dangerous for walkers/runners, and trimming back bushes. Another group worked on planters near Francis, and another cleared a trail near the creek which is being prepared as an "observation look-out" - great for nature walks. The team came together right before lunch to clear some downed trees and branches behind Francis. During the rest of the day, we trail-blazed! In a brand new section between the back fields and the River Trail, a new trail through the meadow section began its transformation from some orange ribbons sprinkled throughout the deep grass and brush and strategically marking the route to a "real trail". There is more to do to finish clearing the brush and grass out to the field. Then, a pass with a lawnmower will finish the trail... or, if you ask the volunteers, several goats would be just perfect! Our team was a friendly, helpful group that worked hard and enjoyed the nice weather and fresh air. Great day!"

And Mike who led the West Clarksville crew send this along:

"We had a very, very productive day. We accomplished more than I thought we were going to. A group of us gathered about another third of Mark's total winter supply of fire wood, while another laid down the first floor, floor barrier and plywood. Along with that we also insulated the back wall of the first floor. Another group created steps for the back doorway and stacked fire wood on the outside of the house.... Once again he [Mark] greatly appreciated us helping him out again, and is so enthusiastic about being able to move in before winter"

Steve added to West Clarksville:

" We put in and finished the floor (a bunch of chipwood boards, i thought it was plywood but it wasn't). Lots of firewood was collected again. For the upstairs floor they're gonna polish it and then put linoleum tiles down. Some parts downstairs will be carpeted. Insulation was started on the back wall."

Come out and help this Saturday!

Picture of the house in West Clarksville. Original home was destroyed by Fire Jan 3

BonaResponds is running a local service day in conjunction with SBU Welcome Days.

We will have about 100 first year students (Freshmen primarily) so we need some experienced volunteers to act as leaders.

We'd love to have you come out. We have jobs that include rebuilding two homes in Allegany County (West Clarksville and Friendship), working at the Olean YMCA, at Mount Irenaeus, Olean Theater Workshop, Food Pantry, the Bradford Elm Street Project, and more.

Please come wearing boots and gloves if at all possible.

Leader meeting in Murphy Room 103 at 10:00, all others at 10:30 in Murphy Aud.

Email Jim if you are willing to be a leader.

Local Service day this Saturday!

Local Service day this Saturday!
Originally uploaded by FinanceProfessor

Posted at the Park and Shops

Local military family needs help after a fire.

This Saturday (May 17th!) we will be helping on a house demolition in Machias. The house was largely destroyed by fire but the family wants to salvage anything of value. This will be hard but good work. It will be gutting the house so be sure to wear boots and have had a tetanus shot! The homeowner is in the military and if we can help them it would be great. Watch the BonaResponds blog for more information but expect to leave Murphy at 10:10 on Saturday. You can also meet us there.

Map:


View Larger Map

The Red Cross also has been in touch with us to help a single mom after a fire in her home in the town of Olean. Electrical work, drywall, painting, and some roofing is needed. We have yet to be able to say yes to this for lack of volunteers and leaders, so if you want to head this up, please respond and let us know. This would be great for church groups and the like!

Local Service Weekend Wrap up

The importance of things was put into perspective today with a phone call in the middle of the day. The brother of last year’s BonaResponds leader James Kane died suddenly. It is thus with a very saddened heart that I even report on the weekend’s events. Please remember James and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Short version: Much work got done on each of the days. Had about 135 volunteers which was lower than expected but much good work got done. Minor problems, such as painting fire hydrants incorrectly, but nothing major.

Longer Version: Good weekend of work. Work was completed on about 18 sites, almost finished at 2, and much progress was made on one other.

Some highlights:

• 143 bags of leaves and garbage picked up at Oak Hill Park in Olean
• Much progress on Bob’s Woods’ trails including the first a new trail around the pond.
• Several truck loads of debris removed from Allegany River Trail
• SPCA was partially painted and animals got some extra care.
• Outdoor Spring Clean up at Washington West Elementary
• Downed trees cut and removed at Gargoyle Park
• Fire hydrants painted over a 18 block area (ok, not perfectly painted, but....)
  
• Dugouts, press box, and backstop was largely complete at Marcus Park
• Theater Workshop and Historical Association work accomplished
• On campus, the Grotto was cleaned up
• SIMM room painted
  
• Much work was completed in Murphy Building
• Much litter and branch pickup was done.
• Bonaventure Gulf Course was cleaned
• Statue of Mary area cleaned and two new planters installed.
  

Weather:

Saturday : Sunny and hot (88 degrees)

Sunday : Mixed, some rain, mid 60s.

Pictures:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/financeprofessor/sets/72157604629418742/

and

http://www.flickr.com/photos/49503136563@N01/