Volunteer Paper

On Friday, September the ninth, I volunteered in the downtown Olean area for the victims

of the Hurricane Katrina incident. The relief effort took place by the corners of Union and State

Streets, Front and State Streets, and in front of the Fire Department. Other participants included the Universities SIFE team, who were accompanied by the swimming and diving teams. The "boot drive," lasted from 6 A.M. until 6 P.M., and by the time the day was over, with the combined efforts of the firefighters and the students, the area had raised $30,000.

It felt great standing out in the intersections and doing something minor for a major cause. There wasn't any pressure put upon the commuters that were passing through to give money. We all just stood there and accepted whatever money was offered. All of the people that passed through were very generous and willing to help, which made the experience even more worth the time spent there. I stood