Key Dates?  See our calendar

Who can go? Virtually anyone

• What about Grad students? Yes!  
• At what cost?  Same cost as undergrads 
• Buffalo-Center (Hilbert Campus) students too? Yes
• People from other schools? Yes, but must pay the unsubsidized cost
• Parents? Yes!  And what a great chance the trip will be to spend time with your children while also helping people
• Community? Yes!!  

Is this only for business students? No!!!  Open to all!    You have to pay attention ;)

How much money is needed for the trip?  Very little money is needed while in the Hurricane affected area.  You will need money for the trip down and back (probably $50) and also may want to buy t-shirts and other small things while in MS and LA.

Does this count as a service activty for forum?  Almost assuredly yes.

I have some medical issues, can I still go.  Yes, but please get clearance with your doctor.  Medical facilities in the region are still very limited and we do not want to stress what facilities are coming back. 

Will there be free time? Yes, but it will generally be limited to before and after work.  

What is a typical day like? A typcial workday begins at 8:00 AM (Breakfast at 7:00), Lunch is at noon, and the work crews return to HQ at about 5:30.  Dinner is at 7:00.  Dinner clean-up and meetings occur until 9:00.  Lights-out is 10:00.  But that sounds a bit worse than it really is, as I always had time to run twice a day and also keep up with emails, blogs, and even football scores, so yes you will have some free time.

Where will be working?  In cities and towns accross the Coast of MS and LA (essentially fromBiloxi to New Orleans).  We plan on breaking the group into more manageable groups.

Can I fly?  Well you can try, but we would recommend a plane.  Oh, you meant can you take a plane instead of a bus.  Absolutley. Just please let us know so we can plan accordingly.

Can I drive? It is not recommended that you drive unless you plan on staying longer than our trip.  That said, it is a free country and you can do what you want, BUT St. Bonaventure University, BonaResponds, as well as all the leaders of the trip, recommend that you do not drive and are not responsible for any problems that happen.

In such a short time, will we make any impact at all?  Yes.  Many people doing just little adds up to a big difference! To think of it in another way, if we get 250 people there, that is the equivalent to 5 people working year round on the recovery effort. 

Where can I learn more?  See the links section, plan on attending BonaResponds meetings, and read any of the many new Post-Katrina books that are now out.

Key dates:  Jan 18--information meeting, January 25--Student money is due and presentation to School of Business Faculty, Feb 3--Presentation to faculty

What pretrip learning opportunities will there be?
    training--done by local contractors, group leaders, and BOCES
    post tramatic stress lecture by Dr. Zuckerman
    team building-done by team leaders

Why should I not go?  If you are not serious about helping.  We would rather take a small group of hard workers than a large group of people who think it is going to be nothing more than a party.  In October in only a few days, we made quite the reputation for being the hardest working group there.  We want to build on that!  We are only there for a short time, so we have to make every minute count.  

Is alcohol allowed?  No. It is official Bonventure policy that no  drugs or alcohol will be allowed.  This will be enforced.  In addition, some of the organizations we will be working with have strict no alchohol/drug policies.  

How can I help from campus?  Get others to sign up.  Contact Jim Mahar for other things that are needed.

Do we pay for meals when down there?  No, but as we say, there is no free lunch.  It is estimated that food alone will cost nearly $20,000 for the week.  While the orgainzations have agreed to pay this in return for our work, it is a large expense for them.  Thus, donations for the food would be greatly appreciated.  These donations can be given to us prior to the trip or to the organizations we will be working with.

What will we eat?  Meals will vary, but tend to be good.  In fact there is an effort made to make vegetarian meals available.  (If you would like vegetarian meals, please contact Jim)

Why are we going to the Gulf Coast and not Pakistan or Thailand?  By no means would we want to discourage you from helping in Pakistan, Thailand, or anywhere else.  However, from a logistical point of view, we can manage sending a large group to the US Gulf.  If you would like to help elesehwere, by all means contact SIFE (who have been helping in the Bahamas and Central America)

What sort of things should I bring? See WhattoBring

What will we do? Tons!  In a word everything!  Volunteers will be gutting houses, cleaning, hanging sheet rock, delivering food, caring for animals, and much much more.  Some people will be helping to organize (both before and during the trip), others will be video taping the trip, and still others will be there to listen to and meet with victims.  

How warm will it be?  The weather in early March in Lousiana and Mississippi is variable.  So bring rain suits, sweatshirts, as well as t-shirts and shorts.  Expect highs in the 60s to low 70s with lows in the 40s.

How do I get my community involved, advertising, sponsors, etc.?  Talk up the trip, join the Facebook group, talk about it on the radio, write to your local paper, get a mention in your church's newsletter, get your family and friends to go, meet up with past classmates, have your company send some people down, pretty much the sky is the limit!  Be creative!!!!!

I can not urge you to volunteer strongly enough.  You will be amazed at how much fun helping others can be!  Email Jim Mahar for information or on how you can help.