Dear Santa,
As you know BonaResponds is very active on many different "fronts": we help after disasters, he help locally in a plethora of ways, we help internationally (especially in Haiti), and we even help you with getting some presents for people who have less.
We know the song. The one that goes "he knows if you've been naughty or nice." And we are sure if you think twice, you will know that BonaResponds has been extra nice. That said, we'd like to give you a little reminder by poem.
First we must apologize that the poem is pretty bad, but here is a recap of the year we had.
We helped near and far, by dipping into the donation jar. We helped young school children and many a home bound senior citizen.
We helped vets and pets.
We helped schools with tools.
We helped other groups, and even send messages to our troops.
We worked in Greenville and Portville, we helped in Cotttondale and up the dale.
We helped after big disasters, and single family's setbacks.
We worked in the sun and on the run. In the cold, we were bold!
Our amazing crew in Dallas worked hard in every way, and they were never callous. They worked with the handicapped on horses and in courses.
In Buffalo and Chicago, BR and others worked as one to get much done. From handicapped camps, to wheelchair ramps we simply did what was needed.
While BonaResponds can not always not make things perfect, we made things better especially where it was wetter.
Wearing our brown duds, we cleaned up after several floods. We worked where people had lost their hope, but still had CitiHope!
And as if on a dare, we went to Sayre where the water had been deep so the garbage we did heap.
We worked after tornadoes in Alabama, NY, and Massachusetts where we made new friends and helped those who had lost so much, realize the importance of a touch.
We sent supplies to Haiti, and were never hatey.
We built ramps, and ramps, and ramps. Truth be told, many of us got sick of ramps, but they were what was needed, so the call we all heeded.
So Santa, we think we have been good, we've helped in the hood and around the neighborhood. The generosity of the volunteers and the donors have allowed us to helped near and far, but there is much more we can still do. This is our Christmas wish list. The list is not for us, but for those we help.
Oh and PS, if you ever want to come volunteer with us, we'd love to have you along! (We are always looking for drivers! I wonder if we could get you and your sleigh approved?)
We've compiled a list of things that would help us to help others. If you could get us any of these items we would surely appreciate it and more importantly those we are helping would love it!
Haiti Related
- Pens, pencils, calculators, crayons, notebooks, rulers, notebook computers, hand sanitizer, math or English books, small toys, deflated soccer balls.
- For The CJM primary school in Leogane Haiti-- 8 French-English Dictionaries (they cost less than $6 at Amazon), also two notebook computers (or more)
- For a school in Gonaives Haiti: musical instruments (used or new), sheet music, and a notebook computer.
- An education to someone in Haiti. HaitiScholarships has a waiting list of students who want to go to school but can not afford it. If you make a donation, a Haitian can go to school (HS pays up to 75% of their tuition) and you (or whoever you select) gets a certificate letting you know who is in school because of you (and with your permission) that student will send a thank you card too!)For about $1 a day you can literally change the life. Think about it! $1.
- Tools (gently used or new) for a vocational school in Leogane Haiti. They would like hammers, saws, tape measures, wire cutters, pipe cutters, a router, a drill, a plane, sandpaper, drill bits, or any other small tools. But really can use pretty much anything. Indeed they would LOVE some contractors to volunteer to teach for a few weeks. If any of your elves are available, let us know.
USA related
- School packs (pencils, crayons, calculators, pens, and notebooks) for students in Buffalo, Camden, and elsewhere whose teachers have identified as in need of supplies.
- Toys for a family in Sayre that we helped. The mother was in a severe accident and then they were flooded out. Very sad story.
- Grab bars (or money for grab bars) to install in homes of physically challenged in and around Western New York State. We have been installing them for the Dept. of Aging, but the cost is adding up fast. If anyone wants to donate for these, it would be excellent.
- Money to buy lumber for wheel chair ramps. It costs about $16 a foot for a ramp. For every inch of elevation change, it is one more foot. So this adds up. Many of those in need cannot afford it. Do we let them be home bound?
- A large sump pump (gas powered). We "lost" ours in Margaretville after their flooding. We have not needed it since (used small ones in Athens) but it is only a matter of time.
- A compressor to run nail guns. Each ramp has about 750+ nails. A nail gun would make us faster and allow us to help more people.
- A volunteer to work a few hours during the week. Of late we have Kevin and it is a HUGE help, but he will be leaving for South Korea soon. The volunteer would help scout jobs, make occasional trips to Buffalo, and to keep the storage facility organized.
- Christmas cards: we would love to deliver Christmas cards to local nursing homes and send them to the troops overseas. Anyone who wants to help you with this, can leave them off at the Allegany Park and Shop (or any of the other Park and Shops, but you might have to explain more there---tell them to send the cards to Allegany attn BonaResponds).
- More volunteers. We always can use more volunteers.
- as much as we hate to ask, money for travel is also often a need. Gas costs money. If you wanted to drop off money in our stocking, that would be ok too, but we'd really rather you come volunteer. Volunteers are more appreciated!
World Related
Oh and if you could tell everyone of our International Service Day (ISD) on March 31st that would be most excellent as well. We are asking people to go help others where ever they are. The jobs can be big or small. Some alumni groups are doing it, but volunteers do not need any tie to SBU. They just need a willingness to help and share their good deeds. It is going to be a great day! We already have volunteers in quite a few spots but we want thousands more! so spread the word when you spread your good cheer. (
http://BonaResponds.org/isd.html)
Thank you Santa!
PS when you are doing your Christmas shopping, it would be really cool if you did it though Good Shop. List BonaResponds as the charity and we get a small percentage of everything you buy. From books at Amazon to just about everything elsewhere...if you buy online, go to GoodShop.com first and remember to list BonaResponds as the charity. :)
