Ireland: Alan O'Connor, a street cleaner with Dublin City Council, shakes his head in disbelief as he talks about the reaction to his fundraising initiative for victims of the Asian tsunami disaster.
The 36-year-old is combining his refuse collection job with gathering money for the Irish Red Cross as he works his way along the streets of Dublin.
The reaction from members of the public, he says, has been greater than he ever imagined.
"Everyone has been excellent. There was one lady who wrote out a €500 cheque and put it in the collection box," he says. "I'm really surprised by the generosity of people. The country has come together, it's wonderful. I think everyone is struck by the horror of what's happened."
Alan, who works between Baggot Street and Bow Lane, says he has also been dropping collection boxes off at local pubs, shop and businesses.
"I dropped a box off at The Scholar's pub on Donovan's lane. We made a nice few quid there on New Year's Eve. I also left one at Lido's, a chipper on Pearse Street. I passed them around to lots of places, and people put whatever they could afford into them."
Alan, according to charities, is one of an army of fundraisers who have been raising money in businesses, shops and schools around the country in recent days.
"We've had a great response to previous appeals, but we've never had anything quite like this," a spokesman for the Irish Red Cross said. "Lots of people have felt compelled not just to give donations, but to go out there and raise money."
Concern said donations were still flowing in from children, sports organisations and corporate bodies who have organised fundraising events of all types.
"They vary a lot. We had a small child who came in with his grandfather and gave €1. Then we got an anonymous donation of €500,000. We also had a woman who was on her way to the sales, but stopped off here and gave her €1,000 spending money to the tsunami appeal."
Goal says sporting organisations and businesses in particular have moved quickly to donate gate receipts or organise fundraising initiatives.
"People are making personal sacrifices," said Goal's Lisa O'Shea. "Today, for example, staff in Wagamama's and Captain America's have been donating their proceeds as well as their staff salaries for the day." Alan, meanwhile, is keen to keep the fundraising momentum up to ensure the people of Asia affected by the disaster continue to receive support in the weeks and months ahead.
"As human beings, we can't just stand back and look at what's happening. We have to do something," he says.
"I'm just one spoke in a big wheel. We need to keep raising money. There is still the second shockwave - the disease and hunger - which is going to come."
