FOR A GOOD CAUSE:Time makes a good donation

With so many organizations out there providing services, donating goods and giving time to the less fortunate, picking one to get involved with can be a challenge.

Anticipating that, the folks at the Costa Mesa Center for Spiritual Discovery have set up a smorgasbord of local causes that need volunteers, during its annual volunteer recruiting event, the People Helping People Fest, taking place Sunday.

There will be more than 20 Orange County-based nonprofit organizations on hand with staff posted at booths from 9:30 a.m to 2:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Costa Mesa Senior Center.

The goal of the volunteer festival is to have 100 people sign up for more than 1,000 combined hours of volunteer work for nonprofits throughout Orange County. And if time is money, that’s worth a lot, said Senior Pastor Jim Turrell of the Costa Mesa Center for Spiritual Discovery.

“When you estimate the average volunteer’s time is worth $13 per hour, that equals over $15,000 of donated time to those organizations,” said Turrell. “Especially when you have people who can donate specific skills to those groups.”

An American Red Cross blood vehicle will be at the event accepting more liquid donations for those who don’t have 12 hours to spare. But feel free to donate both, said Turrell.

Some of the groups at the event will include Share Our Selves, which provides free medical, dental, food, and monetary aid to those in need; Pacific Marine Mammal Center based in Laguna Beach; Habitat for Humanity, and A Light in the Window, which offers help to at-risk families in Orange County.

Those who sign up for at least 12 hours of service will get a free barbecue lunch and entrance to a blues concert featuring Ellis Hall and the center’s six-piece band.

Hall is well known as the last artist to be signed to Ray Charles’ label Crossover Records. In the 1980s, Hall offered his vocal talents as one of the famed California Raisins and has performed with such artists as James Taylor, Warren Hill, Huey Lewis and the News, Bo Diddley and Stevie Wonder.

Turrell believes we forget there are people in need within our own cities. These people often become “invisible” to the rest of the world, Turrell said, adding when people reach out to help one another, “They are more peaceful and prosperous. It improves everyone’s personality to function better and become better human beings.”

“Your life works better when you’re in service to other people,” Turrell said.

The senior center is at 695 West 19th St., Costa Mesa. For more information call (714) 754-7399 or visit www.cmcsd.org.