In many ways, volunteering is a two-way street: the organization receives another working hand to further its mission, and the volunteer gains work experience, skills and the sense of contributing to something bigger than oneself.

“I got to run a group.... It was a social support group for Latino gay men. I got to meet a great group of guys, and we all became really good friends,” said Agustin Orozco, volunteer for the San Diego LGBT Center (The Center), Latino Services.

“I get a sense of contributing, being part of the community – sort of rounding out my life, giving back,” said Neal Weaver, a front-desk volunteer at The Center.

But local nonprofits are finding it a challenge to keep a consistent pool of volunteers.

“We have been finding it difficult to get volunteers that commit to the work. Many people express an interest, but fail to actually follow through with meeting to work out the details,” says Brian F. Hayes, youth program manager of Operation Samahan, Inc., which provides health and social services to low-income families and individuals in San Diego County.

More than 30 organizations will attend the third annual San Diego LGBT Community Leadership Council’s Community Fair hosted at the San Diego LGBT Center on Wednesday Jan. 9, all in search of people to help out in numerous capacities.

For many, such as the American Red Cross San Diego/Imperial Valley Chapter, Mama’s Kitchen, the San Diego State University LGBT Resource Center, and PAWS San Diego County, Inc., the need for volunteers is unlimited.

“We need people to give first aid, people to provide food and comfort to those who have just lost their home, people with computer skills, people who want to work in our warehouse, and people that have public speaking skills to give presentations,” said Ricardo Moran, volunteer coordinator for the American Red Cross San Diego/Imperial Valley Chapter.

“PAWS continually recruits new volunteers due to the high demand for the many types of service we offer our clients. With each year and on a monthly basis our list of clients continues to grow. Therefore, the need for new volunteers is constant,” said Richard Casiano, volunteer coordinator for PAWS San Diego County, Inc., which helps the low-income, elderly, chronically ill and disabled to keep their companion animals.

Often, the organizations’ needs meet those of the volunteers.

“I had gotten my masters in counseling. So I wanted to apply the skills that I acquired. I thought volunteering for Latino Services would be a great way to apply my skills and give back to the community,” said Orozco.

“I wanted to meet more people in the gay community, but I also wanted to work toward gay and lesbian rights. I had just moved into town, so I really wasn’t as connected to the community as I am now,” said Puma Maldonado, who volunteers for the San Diego Coalition for Peace and Justice.

Unfortunately, however, while many volunteers begin their service with great enthusiasm, staying committed is difficult.

“They either move away or come in without work and eventually have to end their service because they just found a job,” said Moran.

Ben Cartwright, director of the student volunteer-driven San Diego State University LGBT Resource Center calls it the “student flake factor.”

“Because our primary volunteer base is students, there is huge turnover…. We always have to consider the student flake factor…. I don’t think students intend to ‘flake,’ but because their lives are so ‘all over the place’ they can’t always keep commitments as planned,” said Cartwright.

Often, volunteers face many of the same challenges as the nonprofits they work for.

“Keeping a consistent number of participants in our group was difficult. Some people were quite transitory. Some people just come and go,” said Orozco.

Other times, the difficulties that volunteers face are all their own.

“Everyone that comes into the Center thinks they own part of the Center. And they do. So they think that their particular program or issue at the moment is paramount, and you kind of have to weight that out and respond to them appropriately. So that’s kind of tricky sometimes,” said Weaver.

For more information on the Community Leadership Council’s Community Volunteer Fair, contact Amanda Bejarano-Ligato at 619-692-2077 or at amandab@thecentersd.org.

San Diego Human Dignity Foundation

American Red Cross San Diego/Imperial Valley Chapter

Aging as Ourselves

LAMBDA archives of San Diego

San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus

Imperial Court de San Diego

North County Pride

Diversionary Theater

Mama’s Kitchen

P.A.W.S. Pets are Wonderful Support

Metropolitan Community Church

San Diego LGBT Pride

Stonewall Citizen’s Patrol

Dining Out for Life

Aids Walk San Diego

Special Delivery San Diego

Being Alive San Diego

Prime Timers of San Diego

Family Matters

Bienestar

San Diego Youth and Community Services

Alternative Community Services

Vitas Innovative Hospice Care

Volunteer San Diego

San Diego State University LGBT Resource Center

Momentum San Diego

Senator Christine Kehoe

San Diego Foundation for Change

Operation Samahan

Planned Parenthood of San Diego and Riverside Counties

Jewish Family Services of San Diego

Front Runners and Walkers San Diego

Seniors Active Aging as Ourselves

Asian Pacific Community AIDS Project

Mental Health Association of San Diego County

San Diego Police Athletic Federation

San Diego Pride

Protection and Advocacy, Inc.

Displaced Gay Youth Empowerment Project

Hillcrest Association Business Improvement District