BonaResponds volunteers gutting a home during the 2023 winter trip to Pine Island, Florida
David Scibilia/The Bona Venture
BY: BROOKE JOHNPIER, STAFF WRITER
Every year, St. Bonaventure University conducts service trips to help people in need around the country and in other parts of the world. BonaResponds and University Ministries — both predominantly run by students — lead these service trips.
BonaResponds, an on-campus club based on community service, is going to the Bahamas over mid-term break to build wheelchair ramps and clean up remaining damage caused by Hurricane Dorian in 2019.
BonaResponds decides the location of the trips based on where the service is most needed, said Reed McElfresh, co-faculty advisor of the club and adjunct professor in the school of business.
“BonaResponds’ main goal is to help make things better,” said McElfresh. When we’re planning a trip, the first thing we look at is to see where help is needed. Some of the other things we consider are the support we receive on the ground, cost [as] we want the trip to be affordable and we want to make sure our destination is somewhere people will want to go.”
Jim Mahar, the other co-faculty advisor and a finance professor, recommended students go on the trip to make the world a better place.
“[Students] learn how to adjust to changes, to help make the world better, to learn that everyone has problems and we are not alone in struggles,” said Mahar. “Francis nailed it when he said ‘It is in giving that we receive.’”
McElfresh said students may gain a new perspective on their own lives.
“I think students will have a greater appreciation of the challenges many people face every day across the globe,” said McElfresh.
Patrick Mcgreal, a junior accounting major, said he goes on the trips because he finds it fun.
“The regular volunteers are people who I enjoy being around and it helps me to stay active on Saturdays,” said Mcgreal. “On top of that, obviously it is a good cause, but selfishly I do it because it’s fun. I’ve been able to meet a ton of people that I never would have met otherwise. With the volunteers on the trips, you tend to become close friends seeing as you’re living and working with them 24/7.”
Kayla Bonin, a sophomore biology major, attended several BonaResponds trips.
“I volunteer with BonaResponds because I like helping people,” said Bonin. “Through going on these trips I have gotten new friends, [gained] experience and I have been able to learn different people’s stories.”
According to McElfresh, BonaResponds has seen great success.
“We’ve done a lot of good over the years,” said McElfresh. “We have helped 300 plus individuals and families get access to their homes through wheelchair ramps, sent out 1500 plus blankets and messages of hope to cancer patients through WarmSnugglyBlankets and sponsored RAM [Remote Area Medical is a non-profit provider of medical clinics delivering free dental, vision and medical care to under-served communities] clinics that have provided over $500,000 of free healthcare to individuals in Western New York.”
University Ministries’s trip to St. Francis Inn in Kensington, Pennsylvania, provides another opportunity for students to volunteer over mid-term break. The St. Francis Inn provides warm meals to any guests who come through its doors. Volunteers prepare, cook and serve the meal and then clean the kitchen after the service is completed.
Robin Stone, a sophomore video production major who has been on the trip twice, will be going for a third time over the break.
“In my previous trips, I’ve worked with other Bonas students as well as the incredible St. Francis Inn members,” said Stone. “I spent some time preparing food, some time interacting with guests one on one and other times working with Inn members.”
Students get the “the Philly experience” by visiting art museums and trying cheesesteaks while on the trips, said Stone.
“Going on this trip gave me a new perspective,” said Stone. “I saw a different world, but a world that is very real. I learned leadership, compassion, understanding and I learned how to stay positive even in negative situations. Ultimately, I took away a refreshed sense of humanity.”
johnpibl23@bonaventure.edu
