The Valley Crisis Center is making a push for more volunteers on the West Side.

The anti-domestic violence group will hold training sessions for volunteers in Los Banos from May 19-30.

“We’re looking for as many volunteers as we can get,” said Reina Nino, Valley Crisis Center program coordinator. “We are (in Los Banos) two days a week, we are hoping to go beyond that.”

Nino said domestic violence is a problem throughout Valley Crisis’ coverage area. She said in the past five months her group has worked with 35 victims from the Westside on obtaining restraining orders.

“We only have a few volunteers , it’s a lot for them (because) we cover Gustine and Santa Nella too,” Nino said.

She said it is difficult to run all of the programs Valley Crisis has available in the confines of the two days the group is in Los Banos (Mondays and Thursdays). Valley Crisis has counseling groups for women and children and provides a multitude of other services for their clients.

Volunteers must have 40 hours of domestic violence training, Nino said. She said later in the year volunteers will also receive a 40-hour training about sexual assault, because that is an issue sometimes associated with domestic violence.

Nino said she hopes volunteers donate as much of their time as they can.

“If it’s one day a month, that’s wonderful,” she said.

Reina said Valley Crisis is in need of more people who can assist victims with restraining orders.

“My goal is to do legal workshops ... preparing restraining orders and walking people through the process,” Nino said.

Valley Crisis Center operates in Los Banos from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays.

For more information or to become a volunteer, call Valley Crisis Center at (209) 725-7900 or email Reina Nino at reina@alliance4you.org