Halton Women's Place (HWP) is looking for new volunteers to assist in numerous areas throughout its overflowing shelters in Burlington and Milton.

"With limited staff, our volunteers provide much-needed support in all our programs. We couldn't do it without them," said Christina Mackay, HWP's special events and volunteer co-ordinator.

Those interested in finding out about what is involved in volunteering at the shelters must attend one of two upcoming orientation nights.

The next information sessions will take place September 16 and 17 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Before their first day on site at HWP, accepted volunteers are required to provide documentation on a current police background check, a stage 1 tuberculosis test and three references.

SHELTERS AT THEIR LIMIT

Both of HWP's shelters are operating beyond capacity at this point, and some of its college and university summer help is going back to school, but it's not a matter of HWP being in a crisis situation with its workforce, said Mackay. "We need people to answer the phones, to thank donors, accept donations at the door and work with the child and youth department."

Among HWP's child and youth programs is a homework club. Volunteers are used at each shelter two nights per week during the school year to help the children of abused women with their homework.

They also help the children with arts and crafts, reading or watch a movie with them. The volunteers are needed at special events to man information booths and sell raffle tickets.

All of HWP's shelter volunteers are females; accepted male volunteers can help at public events, said Mackay.

HWP has 20 full-time workers, 15 to 20 part-time and relief staff, and about 60 volunteers, more than half of whom are used at events or on an on-call basis. To date in 2008, HWP has received just under 1,000 hours of free help from its volunteers.

In 2007, HWP provided a temporary home to more than 800 women and 1,000 children, double the figures from the year before. "This year we are operating at 120 per cent capacity between both sites," said Mackay.

The shelters have been using extra cots and cribs to accommodate demand, she said.

HWP runs a 30-bed facility in Burlington and a 20-bed shelter in Milton. Its budget for 2008 is about $2 million; 75 per cent of its funding comes from the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services but the other 25 per cent must be fundraised.

If you're interested in volunteering with Halton Women's Place and are at least 18 years old, contact Christina Mackay at (905) 332-1200, ext. 244, or by e-mail at cmackay@haltonwomensplace.com. For more information on volunteer opportunities, visit www.haltonwomensplace.com.