" "We're new to the area," said Mary Morning, as her children Ricky, 11, Mary Catherine, 9, and Amelia, 4, played with bobbleheads at the Memphis Redbirds booth. "

""I thought if they got involved (as volunteers), they would get to meet people," said Morning, whose husband, a Pinnacle Airlines pilot, didn't make it to the event. "

"Morning was most attracted to the Junior League, a service organization for women. Her children were most attracted to animal agencies -- Memphis Humane Society and Memphis Animal Shelter. "

"Those agencies joined other high-profile organizations like Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-South and Pink Palace Museum and lesser known nonprofits such as Door of Hope and Spirit Builders at the expo. "

"The 79 organizations with booths was double last year's total, said Mark Dean, executive director of Volunteer Memphis. "

""The agencies did really well last year and word of mouth in the nonprofit community built the nonprofit side," he said. "

""I'm looking to do some networking with other volunteer organizations," said Irene Bernard, chief executive officer of Spirit Builders, an agency she started about a year ago. "

"Memphis newcomer Sharon Berman sought volunteers to help her one-person agency with marketing, setting up meetings in churches to talk about her program and to conduct classes. "

""We're here to spread the mission of UCP and get our services both to adults and children
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