By Special to the Town Crier

Chin Hsu, a Los Altos agent with Alain Pinel Realtors, aptly demonstrated how effective Americans can be when they are mobilized to support fellow citizens in need.

The Friday before the Chinese Moon Festival, held the weekend of Sept. 29 in Cupertino, Hsu came up with an idea to raise funds for the relief of the New York firefighters.

Hsu called the Cupertino Fire Department to see if some firefighters could meet with her at the festival to collect donations. Despite the last-minute request, she was called early Saturday and assured that several firefighters with a truck would meet her at the festival that morning.

Hsu quickly purchased flags, balloons and a poster proclaiming “Proud To Be An American” to decorate a makeshift booth, made from an overturned cardboard trash box. She added American flag stickers to present to donors.

Hsu, with the volunteer Cupertino firefighters, used four firefighters’ boots to hold donations. The “spur of the moment” efforts of one concerned citizen raised $9,900 for the New York firefighters’ relief fund.