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(meteorobs) "Fill the Boot" experience, OT
This has nothing to do with meteors obviously. Just thought I would relate my experience to this list in regards to collecting donations for the families of the New York Fire fighers who were killed during the World Trade Center disasters.
A popular thing amongst fire departments to collect money was to have “Fill the Boot” campaigns. Firemen in uniform and wearing their helmuts, with the engine nearby would stand at busy interesections. They would hold one of their large turnout boots to collect donations. It caught on with contagious enthusiasm around here. Our 7 station dept designated one day to do this. Our crew felt a little on the awkward side to solicit money from the public. It wasn’t a natural thing for us to do. There were three of us. I made three signs from a cardboard box that I cut up. Before sunup, we got to a busy intersection at Fuerte and Avocado in El Cajon/ La Mesa, Calif. I took the center island for the turn lane. I wasn’t there for 30 seconds before I got my first dollar bill donation. From then on we got busier and busier as the rush hour approached it’s peak. To beat the stop lights, I literally had to run almost constantly. People had their arms outstretched waiting for me. The only way I can reach them was to be on a constant juking and jiving trot, as I dodged thru the lanes of cars. Eventually the cars between each light stacked up to about 30 car lengths. I was getting very tired, but I couldn’t stop. People were eager to give their donations. It got so hectic that people were wadding up paper money and throwing it in our direction as they drove by. I was literally dodging traffic. There’s a popular video game called “Frogger”. The object is to get a frog across a multi-lane road to the other side without getting ran over. The frog moved back and forth to avoid the cars. This was exactly what I was doing. There were several moments when I couldn’t help relating myself to that frog. A smile would come to my face when I did. Some folks who weren’t able to give money at the stop light, would pull over and get out of their cars and meet us along the side of the road. Some people who stopped and couldn’t get our attention, simply left money on the seats of the engine. That morning we found over $50 on the seats. A lot of people wanted to thank me and give condolences for the NY fire fighters. Some folks had tears. They were so sympathetic for the NY fire fighters, that it was obvious that they wanted to express this somehow. Being firefighters ourselves, in their hearts we were the conduit to express this emotion to them. It was genuinely heart rendering. We have a large arab community within our district, and it was soothing to see these people making sincere donations along with the rest of the community. After that one day, our dept collected over $65,000 and the tally is still being counted. It will all go to the families of the fallen NY firefighers. For us who dodged the traffic to collect money for them, it was a very satisfying and emotional experience to go thru. I am greatful to have not retired before I could experience such an event. I only regret the loss that made it possible.
George Zay
La Mesa, Calif.
San Miguel Fire Dept.