The person on the other end of the line may be calm or in hysterics. She or he may want to talk for a few minutes or a few hours. Whatever it takes, Saxton's there to help. But as the agency Saxton volunteers for attempts to shed its activist image and assert a larger presence in the community, fewer people seem willing to match her commitment on the front lines. Only six people have applied for training sessions that start Sept. 11, about nine fewer than needed to ensure the same level of service and give volunteers such as Saxton a respite.
Volunteers normally work five shifts a month for several hours at a time.
But many have had to work 10 shifts a month recently. The strain has begun to wear on Saxton, who admits to days when she considers quitting. She could just as easily spend more time at the studio or on long road trips the family takes in the motor home parked outside their home. It's my personal commitment to my community to stay involved and continue. Attracting volunteers to crisis work is always a challenge.