At Alameda Museum in the island city's downtown, volunteer help wanted

"Crammed with Alameda-sourced artifacts, the downtown museum is a treasure trove for anyone wanting to do research especially about the city's many Victorian houses, one of the museum's more popular services. However, due to a lack of volunteer docents, it's only open on weekends. This has been the case since the COVID-19 pandemic, says Valerie Turpen, the museum's board president who notes that it had previously been open Wednesdays through Sundays."

"Turpen blames the shortage of volunteers on the usual reasons such as people getting older and moving away but also says people's lack of free time is a factor. Turpen says people have multiple jobs due to the current economy and have to ask themselves, Do I have three hours a week to devote to volunteering?"

The Alameda Museum on Alameda Avenue houses locally sourced artifacts and serves as a key research resource, notably for Victorian houses. The museum is currently open only on weekends due to a shortage of volunteer docents that began during the COVID-19 pandemic; it previously opened Wednesdays through Sundays. The volunteer shortage has paused the museum's lecture series and affected the nearby Meyers House and Garden, which is also weekend-only and needs help. Valerie Turpen attributes the shortage to aging volunteers, relocation, and community members' limited free time with multiple jobs. She requests around ten volunteers committing a few hours monthly and encourages docents to share personal Alameda stories. The museum's dense displays can create a retail-like perception that may deter visitors.

Read at www.eastbaytimes.com