Family of New Paltz is a clearinghouse for services such as crisis counseling, an emergency food bank, housing assistance, drug treatment and anger management. The organization is presently seeking applications for volunteers to man the desk and phone during weekdayt hours.

According to Icilma Lewis, assistant director, Family uses an application process because the position involves a number of training hours. Volunteers help people with a variety of needs and must become familiar with the large variety of resources Family provides or has access to. "Listening is a lot of what we do," she said. "We have a non-judgmental philosophy, and our volunteers give referrals rather than offering advice." The ideal volunteer has a temperament suited for active listening.

"99% of the people who call already know how to fix their problem, but they need a sounding board," she said. "We might be on the phone for an hour with one person." However, genuine crisis calls do occur, and volunteers are trained on how to respond. "Someone might call and just say, 'I'm feeling down today,'" Lewis explained, "and say nothing more. We train our volunteers on how to get the person talking, find out what the problem is." If a caller is in danger or endangering others, phone volunteers have been drilled on the appropriate protocols to follow. Volunteers are also mandated reporters, and are instructed to let callers know in advance if they will need to report any information. Otherwise, information shared with Family volunteers and employees is kept in confidence.

Training for volunteers includes a talk with Family of Woodstock Executive Director Michael Berg about the organization's 40-year history. "He was there at the beginning and shares the whole history," Lewis said.  Family of New Paltz is one of several locations the nonprofit maintains.

Once the several hours of sessions are concluded, the new volunteers learn various administrivia such as logging activity, assembling food packets, and maintaining the free store at the side of more experienced workers.

For more information about volunteering for Family of New Paltz or any of its services, call 255-8801 and ask for Icilma.