September 22, 1994: Vol26n3: The 1994 SEFA Campaign

Editor's Note: Through SEFA and other volunteer efforts, UB's
influence is felt throughout the Western New York region. Following
are some of the individuals who are offering their time and talents to
help their community. The campaign continues through Oct. 28.

Employees of University Facilities' Administrative Services have been
pooling their volunteer efforts. Since the spring, groups within
Administrative Services have been "adopting" various Western New York
charitable agencies. Activities they've undertaken so far include:

o For Camp Good and Special Times, raised $350 at the camp's "Tour de Teddi
  Bike Ride." Volunteers also sold hot dogs and soft drinks at the Grand 
  Island '94 Show of Homes to raise money for the camp.

o For the Red Cross, took apart and cleaned the dummies used during CPR 
  training.

o For the Food Bank of Western New York, collected more than 400 pounds 
  of canned and other non-perishable food.

o For Haven House, which provides shelter and services to battered women and 
  children, hosted a University Facilities Hot Dog Roast. A total of $350 was
  raised. Also for Haven House, volunteers are coordinating a "Bills for Bills"
  day - participants who wear Bills attire pay a dollar.

o For Canine Helpers for the Handicapped, co-ordinated a "dress down" day,
  raising $104.

Robert Barnes is director of external affairs and an adjunct associate 
professor of industrial engineering in the School ofEngineering and 
Applied Sciences.
"I have a son and a daughter who are both in scouting, and I believe in
supporting my children equally, so I'm an official boy scout leader
and girl scout leader. I even spent Father's Day last year at Girl
Scout camp, washing dishes.
	What I like about scouting is that it develops an entire
dimension one often doesn't get other places such as school - like the
enjoyment of, and responsibility for, the outdoors. And my children
enjoy having me around as a scout leader...as long as I behave myself."

Margaret O'Connor is executive director for UB's Community Action
Corps, which coordinates volunteer services for the UB community. She
is a junior majoring in psychology.

"Two years ago, I was a volunteer at Hopevale Residence in Hamburg.
It's a year-round residence and school for mentally, physically and
sexually abused teenage girls. Volunteers spend time with the girls,
befriend them, and generally keep things calm.
	I'll never forget one of the girls. I had noticed that she
wouldn't let anybody near her. If you came near her, she cringed. She
didn't want anybody to touch her. She didn't trust anybody. At 14, she
had just seen and been through so much. One day, she told me her
story.
	She had been sexually abused by both her father and brother.
When she finally told her mother about it, her mother didn't believe
her. She became extremely angry and verbally attacked her. With no one
to turn to, this girl kept her problems inside, and she started
getting in trouble. She ended up in the detention center in juvenile
hall, after which she was put in a foster home. In the foster home,
the foster father began sexually abusing her and the brother was
beating her up. She ran away three times and each time she was
returned to the same situation.
	Finally she went to court and told her story. She was put in
Hopevale, where she started to receive some help. Last year, I started
volunteering at the Friends of the Night People soup kitchen on Allen
Street, and somebody called my name. It was her, only now she was
volunteering, too, along with people from the halfway house she'd
moved into. She looked beautiful.
	At Hopevale she had finally started to recover. She had gotten
the psychological help she needed. I'm a psychology student, and I
thought, oh, look what you can help someone do. I know that you can't
do it for them, but you can guide them and give them some hope. It
showed me the power of the human spirit."