Hoping to double the number of sign ups, Volunteering for Oakland is holding its Third Annual Volunteer Fair from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, in the cafeteria at Westlake Middle School.

Nearly 30 organizations have signed up for the fair, which will feature an array of  community groups, mostly school-based, that are looking for volunteers to help out at all levels of service. The event will again showcase the wide range of volunteer opportunities available in Oakland schools and explain how community members can support student learning and personal growth in their spare time.

Organizers said they are hoping that an increase in support from the mayor's office will double the number of sign ups from last year's total to 300.

"We think that with the mayor's support, we will have a nice size crowd on Saturday," Stan Weisner, an organizer with Volunteering for Oakland, said. He added that organizers want to make sure that volunteer opportunities match up with the interest, schedule and abilities of interested residents.

"People have different schedules - some people interested in volunteering are retired, while other people have a full plate, it just depends," he said.

In addition to working with the mayor's office, organizers are also working closely with Oakland Unified School District.

"We think this type of collaboration is a great way to share resources and ideas," Weisner said. Organizations expected to be at the fair include, Be A Mentor Inc., Avid and Brothers on the Rise.

Weisner said that with unprecedented cutbacks threatening critical programs and staff positions, Volunteering for Oakland, the mayor’s office and OUSD are trying to fill the void.

"There's no question that volunteering makes a difference," he said. "If you can help supplement what schools and different organizations are doing you make a serious change, even if it's with one person."

Volunteering for Oakland is a a grassroots group from Montclair that saw a need for volunteerism in Oakland. The group was formally known as the Montclair Community Action Group.

As part of her administration's initiative, Mayor Jean Quan has put out a citywide call for residents to volunteer in their communities. She has worked with local organizations and regional agencies since January to get Oaklanders to donate free time toward improving the city.

Quan has focused most of her volunteer efforts towards Oakland's most at-risk youth - students that are struggling in school, aging out of foster care or re-entering the community from juvenile hall.

Sue Piper, who oversees the volunteer initiative for the mayor's office, said the fair at Westlake is a great fit into the mayor's initiative.

''It's perfect," Piper said. "The mayor's initiative is about promoting volunteering, not creating an entity from scratch. We don't want to re-invent the wheel."

For more information, visit MontclairAction.com, or email volunteerfaire@montclairaction.com or contact@volunteeringforoakland.org.