COEUR d'ALENE - The value of volunteer service was obvious Tuesday at the seventh annual Volunteer Fair organized by the Kootenai County Young Professionals.

The event, sponsored by United Way of Kootenai County, attracted 25 local nonprofits to the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn and Conference Center.

Each year, the fair provides a venue for potential volunteers to interact with the nonprofits that can use their services.

"It's very rewarding," said Bobbi Bild, who just celebrated five years of volunteer service for the North Idaho Violence Prevention Center in Coeur d'Alene.

Bild, a volunteer court advocate, manned the center's table at the fair, one of many offering service-seekers various opportunities to lend a hand.

Bild said she provides 15-20 volunteer hours each week to the nonprofit violence prevention center.

"I do it because I believe in the cause. Domestic violence and sexual assault affect so many people," she said.

Ashley Piaskowski, president of the Kootenai County Young Professionals board, said that because the needs of the community change each year, the volunteer opportunities change also.

"It's important to know what the needs are," Piaskowski said.

This year, the needs were broad, as evidenced by the diversity of the nonprofits represented at the fair. There were groups that help children, seniors, the homeless, people with disabilities and more.

Joan Ford, the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce's coordinator of visitor services, said her agency is looking for volunteers to welcome those who travel to the Lake City.

"They come in and say, 'We just drove in. What is there to do?'" Ford said.

The chamber volunteers, who Ford said are usually seniors, will then point the visitors toward whatever types of experiences they're looking for. They direct visitors to shops, events, parks, restaurants, galleries and other attractions in the region.

"And the visitors love it," Ford said.

At three hours each, the visitor center volunteer shifts are short. During the summer, Ford said they staff the downtown Visitor Bureau with two volunteers per shift.

"We see about 30,000 people a year," Ford said.

Kootenai County Young Professionals formed in 2007. Its mission is "to enrich and engage young professionals by providing opportunities for philanthropic and social interaction, leadership development and community involvement in Kootenai County."