Volunteers at the Crisis Call Center in Reno say they are handling 2,500 calls for help every month.
And now they need help in order to help others.
A training session will begin in October to train new volunteers, who will be asked to donate four hours a week to answering calls on the hotline.
"All they need to do is come with a kind heart and be willing to listen," said Debbie Gant-Reed, a staff member at the Crisis Call Center. The training sessions take place during the evenings--with some weekends-- for seven weeks. Volunteers never man the hotlines alone, but are always accompanied by a staff member.
The number of calls to the hotline has risen from 1,500 a month just three years ago to about 2,500 in the past two years. The toll of the economic crisis has led to a rise in suicides and economic distress for thousands of people in Nevada who have lost homes, jobs, cars-- even seen relationships go by the wayside-- because of the economy.
Gant-Reed says volunteers lend a willing ear to callers, but also provide information about resources in the community that might be able to alleviate their distress. She says volunteers find the work rewarding because they are able to bring help to so many people in need.
For more information about how you can volunteer, call (775) 784-8085.
