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:

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

Mini-service Weekend

While volunteering with 500 others is great, small workdays can be just as special. You get to know others better and really see the impact that you are making. This weekend BonaResponds will be having a mini service weekend. We will have a small team going to the SPCA on Saturday to paint the Kennels, work on the dog walking trail, and walk some dogs. The Cattaraugus County SPCA is a no-Kill shelter and some dogs have been there many years. The least we can do is to assure they get a walk!
On Sunday we plan on offering a one hour chain saw lesson (Chain saw safety is a MUST and no one who has not been trained can use our saws after disasters) and then work on the Bob's Woods Trails for a while.

Sign up:

BonaResponds needs drivers and role models for August 28th

Bona_Responds via FlickrAs part of Welcome Days BonaResponds, the First Year Experience, and the Center for Community Engagement are putting on a the annual service day for incoming students. It is a great opportunity for them to meet others while doing good deeds in the local community.

This year will almost assuredly be the largest ever with a high degree of participation expected (400 volunteers for some part of the day would not be surprising.).

We currently have about twenty jobs lined up in the Olean/Allegany area. That part is similar to most of our service weekends. What makes this one extra important is that the incoming students do not have patterns learned yet and thereby are more impressionable. You can make a good first impression for them!

How can you help? We'd LOVE to have you volunteer. Rarely in life is does such a golden opportunity to be a role model and make a positive difference present itself. Not only can you help the local community by painting, cleaning, etc, but just by coming out you are setting an example for new students that helping others is what we do at St. Bonaventure.

Additionally, since it will be the first real volunteer day for many of the students, they need leaders to help show how to act, paint, etc. You really will make a lasting impact on the students if you come out, one that could change people's lives not only for a day, but for their entire life.

But even if you do not know how to paint etc, we can still really use your help. We are very short on drivers! Or bake brownies/cookies, or even peanut butter sandwiches for the volunteers (a great recipe for PB sandwiches: put peanut butter and jelly on bread, serve).

As you can imagine moving 400 volunteers to about 20 different jobs can be a logistical challenge. It is made worse since most of other students (upper class) will be busy moving in and not available to drive. So we really need drivers. If you are over 21 and have a clean driving record, please contact Abby Cohen (acohen@sbu.edu) to help arrange get SBU approval to drive.

Thank you very much. Remember you really can be the difference in someone's college experience and set them on the right path for years to come, all while helping in the local community. What more can you ask for?

No matter who you are, you are a role model and Saturday August 28th is a day when the new students will be watching and learning. Please come out and help.

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Welcome Days Sign up form

Volunteer and Change the World

Volunteer and Change the World,
originally uploaded by Bona_Responds.

Here are pictures of some of the things BonaResponds has been doing this summer! From Salamanca, Buffalo, Ohio, Olean, and Allegany.

A set of pictures.

What are you doing this Weekend?

There are many opportunities to volunteer!

1. You could help in Machias building a new home for the Eisenhardt a family that has had almost unbelievably bad health issues.

2. You could Go to Friendship and help Ed and Donna move items to finish their floor. (BTW they have qualified for a NYS Conservation Assistance program and will be getting a new energy efficient furnace plus more insulation.)

3. You could take part in hunger walk leaving from the Warming House.

"This Sunday - Olean Area Walk for Hunger Relief

Please consider walking in the

Olean Area Walk for Hunger Relief this Sunday, Nov 8, at 2 p.m., to aid local emergency food providers. The three mile walk begins and ends from the Warming House. Get information, including pledge sheet, in the RC from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday, or contact Trevor Thompson tthompso@sbu.edu, X2601"

4. Weather permitting, you could go put on the final coat of paint on the wheel chair ramp and back porch for Jim and Beverly in East Olean.

5. You could help BonaResponds help others, by putting together our shelves and organize our storage room (note: drywall screws do not go with signs and clothing!)

6. You could work on the Trails through Bob's Woods. Need dirt laid down, some branches clipped back, and for the really ambitious, some signs made.

7. If you are in Buffalo you could help Buffalo ReUse take down a house in 24 hours. Yes, they are working late night! From Buffalo Rising:

"ReUse will begin deconstruction on Sunday, November 8th, the day after the announcement. They're calling for volunteers on Sunday from about 10am until midnight, but the greatest need will be from 10am-4pm"

So get out and do something! Life is too short to sit around and watch TV. (and besides, the Bills are on a bye week ;) )



For information on these opportunities come to our meeting at 5:15 on Thursday in Murphy Aud C, or watch the blog and Twitter updates)

Volunteer opportunity to help local SPCA

Help make pizzas to help the SPCA

BonaResponds was asked if we could get some volunteers for the annual Pizza Sale for the Cattaraugus County SPCA. Last year they made (and sold) 800 pizzas as a fund raiser for the local no-kill animal shelter. The pizza making is 12-4 on Sunday at the Pulaski Club in North Olean.

For more info see
http://www.spcacattco.com/

Thank you for work during Livestrong Days

We got the following Thank-You card in the mail today.

Thank You

It's hard to find words
that would even begin
to thank you enough
for how thoughtful you've been.

...I can not find words enough to express my thanks for your [BonaResponds] team that spent almost a whole day on my property working constantly all the time they were here. I could never have afforded to have someone do all the works that they accomplished. When you get to the point where I am in my life, and I know I am not alone, [I just] "Thank God" for people like...your workers. I wish there was something I could do for each and everyone of them.

They are certainly welcome to come here here to just enjoy the property anytime they wish. My dogs enjoyed having then her also....

If you could please give each and everyone of them my thanks.

God bless you and your people,

Sincerely, Carol (and Rick)

BonaResponds-Livestrong Day Announcement!

August 7, 2009

On Friday October 2 and Saturday October 3^rd, 2009 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 could use a little helping hand, please let us know. (contact information is below).

This is an entirely volunteer effort but we will ask that we be allowed to have a bake sale at the site to raise awareness of both BonaResponds and Livestrong. Profits of the bake sale will go to help fund Livestrong efforts around the globe.

The event, as all BonaResponds events, is open to all. It would be a great day for local businesses/offices to come out and volunteer! Or get your class together and make it a class project as well!

On Friday Oct 2 the work will run from 3pm -7pm (The Bake Sale will go from 11-2 on campus, then be moved to the work site.) On Saturday work will start at 10:00 and is expected to be completed by 4:00.

Details will be coming in the coming weeks.

For more information please see BonaResponds.org.

Contact information:

Email: BonaResponds@sbu.edu or jimmahar@yahoo.com

Phone: 716-375-2111

BonaResponds, 231 Murphy Building, Box BY St. Bonaventure NY 14778

BonaResponds plans summer service day

SBU press release: BonaResponds plans summer service day:

"With the vast majority of our students away for summer, we really need your help,”...“If you are available and in the area, we'd love to have you come out.”


BonaResponds will team up with Rebuilding Together, the nation’s leading nonprofit working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize communities, to work on ...homes in the Olean area. Work will include prepping homes so that they can be repainted on July 25."

Thanks Emily!

Sign-up Form for July 11th local service day

Hope you can come! And remember we need local volunteers with so many students gone, so come, bring your family, your co-workers, even your enemies.

BonaResponds local service day July 11

On Saturday July 11th BonaResponds will be teaming up with RebuildingTogether to work on three homes in the Olean Area. Work will include prepping homes so that they can be repainted on July 25th.

The work day is from 10:00 to 4:00. We will meet in Murphy Aud on the St. Bonaventure Campus. (It is the furthest WEST (towards Allegany) building on campus).

The work day is open to all! With the vast majority of our students away for summer, we really ned your help! So if you are available and in the area, we'd love to have you come out.

Bring gloves and work clothes. We encourage you to bring water and sun protection as the vast majority of the work will be outside. Lunch will be provided.

More information will be forthcoming as I know it and I will get a sign-up form online this weekend!


Here is the waiver form that must be signed by all participants.

Thank you from the SPCA

We received the following from John at the SPCA.

"Hi,
Just a note to thank the wonderful group that showed up to volunteer at the SPCA again this year. They helped us in many areas on Saturday, including fence repairing, laundry, overall shelter cleaning, and ridding the outside area of the winter's litter. Of course, dog walking was popular and it was really appreciated. I think at the end of the day every dog at the shelter got a long walk around the pond, and they were resting well by the time I left the shelter.

Please extend our heartfelt thanks to the group that came to the shelter.

Sincerely,

John Skadowski"

The SPCA of Cattaraugus County is such a good asset to the community. It is a no-kill shelter that is always looking for volunteers. If you get a chance, whether with BonaResponds, or on your own, please help.

And by the way, the Allegany Park and Shop has a collection box where you can drop off food, cleaning supplies, small toys, and towels for the animals.

Thank you for Olean Street clean up

Was just sent the following which was also sent to the local paper (Olean Times Herald) from Mimi

April 28, 2009

I want to thank BonaResponds for helping me on Sunday, April 26. A few weeks ago I emailed [BonaResponds] at St. Bonaventure to ask [for a few volunteers] to help me pick up all the trash along the Dugan and Windfall Roads. I have voluntarily maintained these roads for several years and would welcome any help for the initial spring cleanup as it’s a huge job.

I was overwhelmed when 15 students pulled up in three vehicles and jumped out of their cars ready to help me. Together we filled 18, 42- gallon trash bags! The volunteers were cheerful and worked right along with me. What a godsend.

A huge “Thank You” to Jim Mahar for arranging for the volunteers. I am very grateful. The volunteers were:

Bill Hammond Kristen Burke

Alicia D’Alessandro Corey Fahy

Andy Scroger Steve Gearhart

Andrew Serrato Ariel White

Patrick O’Connell Zak Domes

Dan Eichenauer Jarrad Enslow

Jason Leroy Jack Fuller

Michelle Canfield

....

Thank you very much.

Mimi Smith

A thank you from this weekend's service work

I received the following email that really brightened my day. I hope it does your's too :)

"I cannot begin to tell you what a joy it was to have the assistance of the Bona Responds team yesterday! So much has been written about the team and its efforts to meet the needs in various communities, but I have never witnessed the program first hand. Your volunteers reported with smiles on their faces and an enthusiasm that was contagious. We had a mix of parents, community members, and staff members who worked along side your team.

All of your responders were very engaged. They took the initiative and truly worked the entire time they were here. I am sure that your team did what would have take our workers countless hours, even days to accomplish on their own. I was so impressed with one responder who asked a crew leader for the "toughest, dirtiest, worst job that no one else will want" and was so excited to get it.

In just hours, your team helped our crew to complete the following:

stain an entire wooden play ground (back yard)
construct a new piece of playground equipment ( needed post holes, concrete, leveling, etc.) (backyard)
rake the lawn and flower beds/pick up debris (side and back yard)
stain landscape timbers (front yard)l
cut, stain, and install new landscape timbers for a monument (front yard)
complete the prep work for the installation of a new sidewalk to the playground (front yard)
stain and install landscape timbers around the playground - raising it 1 level (front yard)
wash front windows on the main level, and walls in the gym
various prep work for walls to be painted on the second floor
tape and paint and stairwells to the second floor

The workers on our grounds received a great deal of attention as people drove/walled by. I was thrilled that one of our neighbors walked over to check things out. In doing so, she was greeted by your groups' kindness. She praised their efforts and thanked everyone for making our school a better place, making her neighborhood look better, and for caring our community in general. She even walked back home, got her broom and rake, and joined in the work. It was her pleasure to buy the crew a pizza as a way to say thanks!

Please know that I feel that your work is a true ministry. I was touched by your generosity with your time and talents, and grateful that our district would be the receiver of the benefits of your labor.

On behalf of the entire IJN community - THANK YOU - for giving, not just to our school district and neighborhood, but to so many others around the area.

With sincere appreciation,

Linda"

The BonaResponds Local Service Weekend- April 24-26

The following is a class assignment from Laura Adams. (Laura will be volunteering with us on the 26th). It has been edited to include some more details)

Lauren Adams

BonaResponds Story

BonaResponds will be hosting its first local three-day service weekend April 24^th through 26^th. The weekend will be full of work to help the local community.

This is on of many local events that BonaResponds holds each year. Jobs that have done locally include helping to build two houses in Allegany County (Friendship and West Clarksville), painting and cleaning local parks, street clean ups, painting fire hydrants and street signs, helping elderly home owners, renovating after fires, working in local schools and much more.

The local work has become an important component in the BonaResponds objective. According to Jim Mahar, the head of BonaResponds “We got our start after Katrina, and definitely still responds to national disasters, but our local work is a very important part of what we do as well. Just because a story is not on the national news does not mean the people can’t use some help.”

Steve Gearhart, BonaResponds volunteer, appreciates this kind of program being offered at St. Bonaventure. “I think it’s awesome for the school that preaches Franciscan values to have a volunteer organization like BonaResponds,” Gearhart said in a telephone interview.

The April 24-26^th local weekend will consist of providing a large group of activities from landscaping, painting, rebuilding and other volunteer services around Allegany, Olean, and the surrounding community. “All the seemingly small things we do really make a difference to so many people,” Mahar said. You just never know the impact but helping a food pantry or other local organization allows many others to get assistance.

Rob Ryer, BonaResponds volunteer, remembers why he got involved with BonaResponds. “When we pulled up to the house and got out of the car and saw the man we were helping, I knew that whatever we were going to do would brighten his day,” Ryer said.

The local weekend begins on Friday morning, when Liberty Partners, a group of about 50 at-risk students from the local area will be visiting St. Bonaventure to experience life on a college campus. BonaResponds volunteers will be assisting the students by giving tours of the campus and introducing them to the college lifestyle.

Gearhart is excited about the new angle BonaResponds is taking in helping the community. “I think it’s good we’re open to trying other things and we’re not just strictly physical volunteer work,” he said. “It’s good to help out however we can.”

The High School students will also participate in a project modeled after the national No Child Left Inside program which is designed to get people outside. There will be activities like hiking, kickball, volleyball and other pick-up sports games. "There is a national obesity problem and many of us do not get out and exercise enough. If Friday's events help spur a better appreciation of what is available, both in college and outside, then it will have been a success. Mahar said.

Also on Friday there will be a clean up on Mt. Hermans and other areas in conjunction with the Olean Hiking Group.

The main workdays of the weekend will be Saturday and Sunday. Each will begin with a short meeting in Murphy where volunteers will be given a simple lunch to take with them as they break up and go to any of 20-25 local work sites.

"It is a full day of work. No matter what site you are at, you will get to make a difference. We will work until about 5:00 and then come back for a all-hands meeting and a BBQ" said Mahar.

BonaResponds is open to any volunteer. Mahar stressed that even if the volunteer can only donate a few hours, they can make a big impact. “Picking up trash, or painting a wall for three hours may not seem like much, but if everyone chips in, an amazing amount of work will get done.

Ryer also knows that any amount of time makes a big difference. “These people have so much to deal with and think about day-to-day, When we are there for even just a few hours, it gives them a chance to move forward with their lives and escape the hardships they must deal with.”

In the past, volunteers for BonaResponds have traveled to ten states (Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, NY, Missouri, Ohio, Texas, Iowa, Alabama and Texas to help pick up and rebuild after natural disasters, according to www.bonaresponds.org. While the trips are a highlight and will always remain an integral part of BonaResponds, “the local service days show that we don’t have to travel 2,600 miles to make a difference,” Mahar said. “There are plenty of opportunities to change lives around here.”

Desperate need for volunteers this Saturday

Before you say yes or no, I want you to try and imagine these three situations. Then, let me know if you can help.

1. I just got off the phone with the Cattaragus Department of the Aging. They have an 80 year old man who is in some trouble: his heat no longer works (it is winter) but his house is a such a mess (he is living in squalor and barely has any electric) that a new heater can not be installed. They asked if BonaResponds would be able to help clean out his living quarters and help get him heat.

A few phone calls later and we have a donated walk-in dumpster (thanks SDS!) and are in the midst of working out the details as to how we can help THIS Saturday (I would have pushed it back but he has no heat!). We can use probably 10-12 volunteers here. Transportation may be an issue since it is a 50 minute drive, but BonaResponds will reimburse gas money and provide a simple lunch. We will also try to have at least a van.

Dress warmly. Not only is there no heat, but we will be making any many trips out to the dumpster.

2. A few weeks ago there was a fire locally. It totally destroyed the home shared by a 69 year old and her 91 year old mom. Fortunately they had been planning on moving and had already purchased another home that needs some work done. Here is a part of an email I received about it:

" My mother and grandmother thank you all as well. An update.. They lost everything.
Literally got out with their clothes, no shoes, on their backs. Thankfully the dog survived and just when we were ready to tell my grandmother that her cat was gone, someone called to say they found her in the inferno, wrapped her in a blanket, gave her oxygen and took her to the vet. Only medicine, my mom's purse and the safe made it out.

Help? here is the answer to that question.. what they need more than anything is a home that is safe and comfortable. My Mom is 69 and Myrt is 91.. we're trying to paste together a small army to help us finish the 4th Street house that she closed on last week.

With many hands it will only take a couple of weeks (if that). Painting, Kitchen, a bath area for Myrt, light sanding on the beautiful floors, spackle, a very small amount of drywall, very small amounts of tile work on the floors.... I will just send out an email to this list when we'll be at the house so that if anyone is free we would more than appreciate some helping hands. You have all been so generous with your offers and there is no way we can possibly repay your kindness.. we will be forever grateful."

I spoke with her again yesterday and they have 3 or four rooms that need to be drywalled plus painting etc. They can use 10 people as well. Preferably with some experience.

3. Last, but not least, Ed and Donna in Friendship. They need some help painting and varnishing the boards that will go from the floor to the drywall in the remaining rooms. (Ed thinks 4-5 volunteers would be sufficient.)


If you do the math we need about 25 volunteers for this weekend. I realize it is short notice, but fires and emergency calls can not be planned. I realize it is Alumni weekend, but bring them along.

So there is a clear need for volunteers this weekend! With the alumni back, lets make the work day Saturday this time. Meet at 9:45 behind Murphy.


Also given the likely need to turn people away for this year's spring break trip due to the availability of housing, these local days are a good way to be sure you get a spot!

BonaResponds paints Family Literacy Center

BonaResponds paints Family Literacy Center
Originally uploaded by Nif.

Well it was a small turnout, but when one of the workers is Pat, you know you are going to get a ton done.

What was the job? Well we really only helped the crew that they already had painting. Jen, Karen, Karie,Sarah, Ashlee, Lisa, and Rachelle had been painting what will be the new Family Literacy Center.

We got a call yesterday and although only Pat came out, we did help them get one room done (they worked on the other two rooms so everything has at least one coat down.

This is from Jen:

"Thank you very much to BonaResponds for helping to
prepare the new Even Start Family Literacy
Center! BonaResponds volunteers, AmeriCorps members, and staff
worked together to paint three classrooms and a hallway
in the new center, which will be opening in two weeks
as the main location for Even Start family literacy
programs. Even Start works with low income and low
literacy families by providing parenting, adult
education, early childhood education, and interactive literacy
activities. Olean's new program focuses on teen
parents and currently has many families with infants and
toddlers. Even Start parents interact with their children
in literacy activities, learn parenting skills, and
improve their own education to earn a GED, go on to
college, and get jobs. Previously located in an
elementary building, the program shared classroom space
with a pre-k class - not an ideal set-up for little ones
and their parents to work together! The new Family
Literacy Center will provide the opportunity for
increased program time in a family-friendly environment
where parents and young children can learn and play
together. Thanks so much!!!"

BTW if you look at Jen's pictures on Flickr the set also has some pictures from this past week in Friendship that I had not seen before.

Need a small group of

Need a small group of volunteers to paint on Friday afternoon at local school from about 2-5?. email,call/TM if able.