Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 30, 1994 TAG: 9408300091
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: TRUST LENGTH: Medium
But since the beginning of the summer - with a good chunk of its volunteer staff quitting because of marriages, job transfers or school - that need has magnified.
The need was so pressing that the TRUST board of directors, for the first time in the agency's 24 years, allocated funds for a television, radio and newspaper campaign to rouse public interest in volunteering.
``We actually feel like we're having a crisis at this crisis center,'' said Stuart Israel, TRUST's executive director. ``For some reason, we've not been able to replace volunteers at the same rate we had in the past. Turnover isn't any greater. We're just not able to recruit volunteers as we used to.''
Volunteers have been TRUST's lifeblood, Israel said. Nearly all of the agency's staff is volunteer.
Working an average of one four-hour to six-hour shift per week, 45 volunteers provide counseling services over TRUST's 24-hour hot line and personal counseling to clients who seek emergency shelter at the TRUST House.
``All of our volunteers do basically the same thing,'' said Kelly Underwood, executive secretary for TRUST. ``They are responsible for dealing with the client, whether it's over the phone or for walk-ins.''
Last year, TRUST served more than 10,000 clients from birth to age 89, Underwood said. Service may come in the way of a store voucher to a mother who has fled an abusive home with her children, Underwood said. For others, it may be mental health assistance.
``The client issues we deal with are as varied as the number of people who come to us for help - relationship issues, substance abuse, AIDS,'' she said. ``And for some reason, in the past couple of months, suicide calls have gone up.''
Volunteer training sessions are conducted twice a year. Trainees receive 30 hours of classroom training, including instruction in listening and counseling skills, followed by four on-the-job training shifts with experienced volunteers.
Issues in which volunteers are trained include suicide, relationships, substance abuse, rape and spouse and child abuse.
TRUST volunteers ``are from all walks of life,'' Israel said. ``They range from the lonely Maytag repairman to the owner of a clothing chain. They are men, women, 21 to 77. Most of them have no previous experience.''
Israel estimated that TRUST needs 30 more volunteers ``to make the place run smoothly.'' That would allow all volunteers to work one shift each week with at least one partner, he said.
``It's a big commitment that we ask,'' Underwood said. ``Volunteers that have stayed here all agree that it's worth it. They say they get more out of it than they put into it.''
Those interested in volunteering at TRUST should call 776-3550, Monday-Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., or 344-1948 after 5 p.m. and on weekends. Applications should be submitted before Sept. 9. The first training session begins Sept. 16.
by CNB