Rob received word yesterday that the grant application we put together last week was approved and that Toys R Us is making a donation of 250 soccer balls for distribution by BR in Haiti.  Thanks to CEO, Jerry Storch for his quick response and commitment to the effort to help children in need regardless of where they are or whether their parents shop at his stores.  We'll likely plan a day over the summer to get them packed up, so stay tuned if you're interested in helping.

On Sunday, I spent some time visiting my aunt and uncle for whom we built the wheelchair ramp a few weeks back.  Dick is recovering nicely and my aunt reports that he spends time out on the deck extension we added when the weather is warm enough.  I was surprised to find that someone else has picked up where BR left off, as there was mulch added around the flowers we moved, and the neighbor had mowed the yard for them.  While visiting, Dick and I discussed some options for a door wedge to help him get into the house a little easier; fortunately we were able to locate the materials for same.  I'll head out later this week (assuming the rain stops) to cut the materials and secure them to the deck.  We also got the bedroom door off the hinges to give him a bit more room and make it easier to maneuver around the house.  There are still some small jobs that need to be completed related to the ramp including cutting off the remaining 4x4s, adding a cap rail to the banisters, and putting up lattice.  Also, the friction tape needs added to the decking so no one slips, though the weather (again) needs to improve before this can be done.

I spoke with Jim today and indicated my desire for an ongoing work list that volunteers can participate in over the summer for the weekends when there aren't "big" jobs.  With the students away for summer, and volunteers likely in short supply, those of us that are still around would be ale to continue the work independently without the need for significant coordination.  We also discussed ways in which we can help the economy of Haiti  While it is unlikely that we can make a significant difference on a macro scale, at a minimum we should be able to create some change on a local level.  A micro loan program was the first suggestions, but given that most are not working, they would not have the ability to pay back the loans.  We did however come up with an idea to provide the wages for a worker at the orphanage.  This approach not only puts someone to work, but also helps out the orphanage, which could likely use the additional staffing, given there are 116 children sharing one property.  I'm certain this will need some more consideration, but its a sound plan that I think we could easily cultivate support for.  If we had enough support we could potentially subsidize multiple employees at various locations including local schools, cleanup sites, and the like.  If you're interested in helping, or sponsoring a new employee in Haiti, get in touch.

-Nate

I'm pleased to report that the wheelchair ramp at my aunt and uncle's house is complete.  Railings are up, flowers are planted, decking is secure, and the porch furniture has been put back in place.  With the exception of the lattice, which will wait for my aunt to decide where it goes, and a 4x4 that needs lopped off, the project is in my eyes complete AND paid for.   I was amazed at the generosity that so many people demonstrated both by the giving of their time and their resources.  All told, the ramp was paid for entirely with donations, leaving my aunt and uncle free to focus on recovery.  Here are pictures of the  house before the ramp, as well as the completed ramp:

Busy, busy, busy...  I took Thursday night off from the ramp build, primarily because I don't think I could have handled looking at it for one more consecutive night.  LOL   Ended up going out Friday night to get most of the railing up, so it will be mostly safe for Dick when he returns home.  Will most likely go out Monday night to cut the tops off of the 4x4s and add the last few railing sections.  When the weather warms up a bit more, I'll add the anti-slip tape to the decking.

Today was Day #2 of Local Service Weekend.  Several jobs were in progress simultaneously, including drywall work at the Literacy Center, tiling at the Cornerstone Medical Loan Closet's new location, Painting and cleanup at a local cemetery, helping out with a Red Cross race on campus, and probably a few others that I can't think of right now.  Brian and I arrived on campus around 10am, after loading the truck up with the chop saw and left over lumber from the ramp build.  Began the day with a run down from Jim and then headed out to the first job site.  Brian, Rob, Carrie, Carrie's mother, Bud and myself went to M. Twitty's house to finish up some railing on, you guessed it, a wheelchair ramp, that the group had built last year.  It was a fairly simple job that Bud and I took care of while the other 3 members of our team scraped and painted the foundation of the home which was flaking, and Carrie's mom kept Mrs. Twitty company in the house.  Carrie then went on to rake the grass in the back yard while we had lunch and waited for our next assignment.  Mrs Twitty was extremely thankful for the help and it was an absolute pleasure to have made her acquaintance.

Next the team split up, with Brian and I heading to the BR storage area to gather up the anchor posts and some other items that we didn't use for Dick's ramp.   We returned these, along with the aforementioned lumber to Home Depot and picked up two sheets of drywall and some paper tape for the job at the literacy center.  At this point, Brian had to head out to attend to a prior obligation.  Having delivered the material to the literacy center, I then went to Bob's Woods on the SBU campus where Bud, Rob, and I worked on leveling some of the rough spots on the trails.  This turned out to be a rather fun time, as Rob and I rode on the back of Bud's 4-wheeler as we brought several loads of bank run out to the trail.

To end the day, we returned a mountain of tools, etc. to the storage area and proceeded to the cookout that was planned at the Univ. Ministry building, where each grouped shared their accomplishments for the day.   A solid day of work overall, with more planned for tomorrow.  

-Nate

I ended up not taking last night off from the build despite my best intentions of doing so.  I received a call late morning from my aunt indicating that they would most likely be returning this weekend instead of next week, which moved the deadline for finishing things up by a couple of days.  It's nice to be able to see the finish line for this project, especially now that the decking is all in place and only requires a bit more nailing, but I'm struggling with completing the railings given some of the unevenness in our construction.  That being said, I will do the best I can to get things in order before they get back.  It may not be pretty, but it will definately be functional.  Thanks to Jen last night for driving over to help.  She is a machine when it comes to hammer & nail.

-Nate

WE DID IT!!!   Tonight, as of 8:30 pm, I am proud to report that BonaResponds is now the proud parent of of a wheelchair ramp that reaches the ground.  Okay, so it still needs 16' of decking laid, some handrails, etc, but what a milestone...  Thanks to Brian C., who met up with me after work to get the last section in place, as well as some additional decking on yesterday's section.  Also, many thanks to Barb & Jack from Russel, PA who donated $100 towards construction costs.  That puts the new total for donations at $1100, with only a few hundred more to go.  AMAZING!!!  

So I've been promising pictures for 4 days now and here they are!!!

Here's the house before we started...

Here's the end of Day 1 (or the beginning of Day 2, whichever you prefer)...

End of Day 2, (more like beginning of Day 4, as Day 3 was spent hauling lumber)...

And here is where we're at after tonight's session (Day 4)...  Sorry it's dark, but we worked until well past sundown...

Additional photos from the first day when BonaResponds big group helped out are available here.  Taking tomorrow night off, but will be back at it again on Thursday if anyone is around and wants to help.

-Nate

Another day, and more accomplished...  The day started around 8am by getting the platform built yesterday in place.  Small supports were built under the frame and large, staked 4x4's made up the balance of the structure.  In addition, another 8' section of the "return" ramp was added on.  We moved quickly and efficiently as things just seemed to fall in place as needed.  Before leaving, we added additional decking to the first section of ramp we built previously, as well as the second platform we installed today.   I returned later in the afternoon to begin the next section, but alas ran into difficulty that will need to be taken care of when I have more time.   Finished the day meeting Jim at Home Depot to pick up the remainder of the lumber we needed for decking, guard rails and caps, which I unloaded into the garage upon my return.  

I know, I know...  still no pictures..   At some point I'll get them up here, but right now I'm so tuckered out from the past three days, that its not that high on my priority list.  Tomorrow, Brian will be helping me to get the last two sections (hopefully) in place so we can focus on decking and rails on Saturday.  Jim received an inquiry from a local willing to help, so I'm excited to have the assistance of someone who no doubt knows more about construction than I do...  LOL

To end on a positive note...  we received a sizable donation from the Asbury United Methodist Church of Bradford which should cover a substantial portion of the cost (THANK YOU!), though as materials continue to add up, there will no doubt still be a balance that will need to be addressed.

-Nate

Today, despite small numbers, we got quite a bit done.   I began the day by driving out and fitting the bannister we removed yesterday back into place and cutting it so as to add a gate to the uppper platform of the "main frame".  Around 1215, we went to pick up the decking we left at Home Depot yesterday, as well some additional 2x8's and other miscellaneous items that we needed.  Additionally, we picked up a few sheets of lattice from a previous BR recipient for the finish work once the ramp itself is complete.   Arrived at the house to unload around 2:30 and began the build by adding some decking to the "main frame" we built yesterday in order to allow us to more easily move around. 

Added an additional 8' of ramp with bracing with Jen while Jim worked on the frame for the second platform that will create the 180 degree turn.  Tomorrow, Jim and I will be out in the morning to get the platform in place so we can begin the second run back down to the driveway...  Sorry for no pics today, but hope to have a collage ready for tomorrow so everyone can see the progress as it took place.

-Nate

Waking up to snow is never a good sign.  Given the weather, the call was made to postpone the carwash / flea market until May 8th, when, by the grace of God, the sun will make an appearance and temperatures will be above 50 degrees.   With that off of the schedule, it was decided that our efforts would be directed, rain or shine (or snow) toward beginning the wheechair ramp at the Yohe homestead.  The day began with our arrival at Home Depot where we picked out supplies and loaded the truck for the trip to the town.  Being that the truck was not mine, I chose to leave the decking at the pro desk for pickup tomorrow so that we didn't overload the pickup. 

Supplies in tow, we traveled to the work site and unloaded the truck.  After some debate about the basics of mathematics, construction began with post layout and deck frame building.  By days' end we had completed the "main frame" and had side rails for the first drop down in place.   Thank you to all of the BonaResponds volunteers that came out in the HORRIBLE weather today to help.

Hopefully, will make some additional progress tomorrow morning (replacing banister on porch and installing a gate) and then traveling to Home Depot to pick up the decking and some other supplies.  Will post pictures tomorrow of our work so far.

P.S.  Contemplating a trip to Haiti this summer with BonaResponds in lieu of a vacation...  Brian did some research and the flight is around $500.  Not too bad.

-Nate

As discussed in previous posts, this Saturday from 10-4 is the car wash/flea market at Living Waters Church in Olean, NY to raise money for Haiti...  It's also the run up to a local service weekend April 23-25...   As part of that weekend, and perhaps this weekend depending on the weather, we'll be building a wheelchair ramp here in Bradford at my aunt and uncle's house.  While BR has kindly volunteered to take on the construction project, the cost of materials is still quite staggering (around $1200).  Given that Trudy and Dick have been "plagued" with medical issues over the past few years, this is in their eyes a small fortune.  As much as I would love to be able to just write a check, I too carry a burden, one of student loan payments, a mortgage, car payment, etc.   HOWEVER... 

While listening to NPR today I gleaned the ONLY positive thing one could learn from pledge week...  how to beg.  To those of you reading this (and I know who you are), please consider sending in a donation to support local service weekend.  NPR will survive without your spring membership pledge.  Afterall, they'll ask again this fall.  You can send checks to BonaResponds directly with either "wheelchair ramp" or "nateolay" in the memo line, or if you prefer, you can contact me directly through Facebook and we'll make other arrangements.  I'll be pitching in, BonaResponds is pitching in, and YOU should pitch in too.  I'm not asking for $100 bills, $10's and $20's work just fine.   And if you can't send $$, then get in touch with either myself or Jim and volunteer your time to one of the many "jobs" that are scheduled.

See you Saturday!!!

-Nate