Megan Dunlavey always wanted to volunteer more of her time to help those in need, but like so many of us, she found herself short on time.

The 23-year-old, who plans to earn a master's degree in social work, also thought she wanted to work with young mothers and pregnant teenagers -- but like other young people trying to choose a career path, she was unsure.

And like others fresh out of college, Dunlavey knew a little money to pay for her education couldn't hurt.

Everything clicked when she chose to become an AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America -- or VISTA. She works at the Florence Crittenton home, where she coordinates community outreach and gets involved in residents' lives on her own time.

"It was just the perfect opportunity and I couldn't pass it up," Dunlavey said.

She's now more certain of her career path, pleased to be working to better the community and is eligible for a financial award at the end of her tenure.

Helena is now home to 18 VISTAs who work one-year stints trying to increase the ability for low-income populations, and the nonprofit organizations that serve them, to solve community problems.

Some volunteers will end their tenure in January, and new VISTAs will move into town. Dunlavey, like some others in town, began her work in July and will continue on through mid-2008.

Local organizations have five positions open for opportunities beginning next month, and the application deadline is Dec. 21 (see sidebar). Positions are available for people in Helena and from across the country.

Dunlavey, a former volunteer and a program coordinator in Helena, said Tuesday the VISTA experience is a rewarding one, with volunteers learning skills they'll carry with them throughout their lives.

Vicki Turner, the program director for the state Prevention Resources Center, said she's supervised more than 260 VISTA volunteers in her career.

"Every single one will walk away saying they got more than they gave," she said.

Volunteers gain lifelong friendships, in-depth professional skills and networking opportunities.

"They also leave some sort of footprint that they can look back and see down the road," Turner said. "It's good-news work, especially in a time when there's not a lot of good news going around. It's a good way to serve domestic needs in our country.

"We get the best people, and all of them go on to do amazing things," she added. "These are folks that are our future leaders."

Judy Merickel, now Florence Crittenton's development director, first worked at the home for young mothers as a VISTA in 2004. She worked to make better use of residents who volunteer at the facility, aiming to build a structured program and provide support for those folks. The following year, another VISTA continued the job, and then Florence Crittenton was able to raise enough money to hire a part-time coordinator.

"That is the whole vision of VISTA -- to build capacity within the nonprofits" to solve problems, Merickel said.

She said her time as a volunteer was one of the best experiences of her life, and the lessons she learned stay with her today.

Merickel said she learned empathy for the poor by living on the minimal stipend provided by the federal government.

"You are basically immersed in a world with people in poverty," she said. "You are forced to live like one of the people you are trying to help and that really opens your eyes."

Merickel said one experience sticks out in her memory. Running low on money, she applied for food stamps. She left the assistance office in tears.

"It's very embarrassing, and it's not a fun thing to go through to admit that you need that help," she said.

"I can't believe what people have to go through," she added. "It's just really humbling."

Reporter Larry Kline: 447-4075 or larry.kline@helenair.com