Bobby Lee is looking for a better way. Until then, he has his eyes on the road, a smile on his face and a boot in his hands.

This weekend, nearly 500 members of the Hawaii Fire Fighters Association Local 1463 will be out on the streets fundraising for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. They use their work boots to gather donations, not those ubiquitous scoop nets, though they are keenly aware that roadside fundraising may have worn out its welcome in the community.

"In the past couple of years, everybody and their brother is out there on the street," says Lee, the HFFA president.

"We don't blame people for getting tired of the fundraisers. There's more traffic now, it's more dangerous, there's more people out there."

One year, out by Pearl City Sam's Club, the firefighters were filling their boots when a baseball team arrived to do some fundraising in the same spot. When the team realized the area was already spoken for, they moved off to another location. However, as soon as the Fill the Boot event was over, another group came out and took their place.

The thing is, it works. Firefighters in Hawai'i have gathered between $45,000 to $60,000 each year for the MDA. The Fill the Boot campaign coincides with the Jerry Lewis telethon over Labor Day weekend.

The Fill the Boot campaign is conducted by firefighters across the country and in Canada as part of the International Association of Fire Fighters' commitment to the MDA. IAFF is the largest sponsor of the MDA.

The IAFF is so serious about this campaign that it publishes an online handbook on how to properly Fill the Boot. The 35-page manual has detailed instructions on how to work with local ordinances, keep everybody safe and deal with inclement weather (including the classic tough-guy motto, "suck it up"). It reminds firefighters to never stop traffic, to only approach stopped vehicles, maintain a professional attitude and never allow spouses or children to collect donations on the street.

"If anybody has ideas for a better way to do this, I'm all ears," Lee says. One idea is to partner with chain stores and conduct the fundraising from displays near the front entrance.

The Fill the Boot campaign for MDA kicks off tomorrow at Tamarind Park. On Saturday, firefighters will collect donations on the Leeward side at Waimano Home Road near First Hawaiian Bank and in Kapolei. On Sunday, they'll be by Windward City in Kane'ohe.

You'll be able to spot them by the yellow fire trucks, the boots and no scoop nets.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.