“I am responsible, when anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help I want the hand of A.A. always to be there. And for that: I am responsible.”
Possibly, the most important job that Intergroup does is maintaining the 24-Hour Hotline. This phone line allows the hand of A.A. to always be there to anyone who needs Alcoholics Anonymous’ critical help, meeting information or to speak with another alcoholic. During working hours, the phones are staffed by Temecula Valley Central Office Volunteers from 10am – 5:00pm Monday thru Thursday, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM Fridays and 9am – 12pm on Saturdays. When the Central Office is closed the phone is answered by volunteer A.A. Members who have the calls forwarded to their home or cell phones. Most Members that have volunteered find that, by sharing their experience, strength and hope, they not only get to help a fellow alcoholic, but they also empower their own sobriety.
Any A.A. Member within our service area can participate. It’s a great experience. It gives you a chance to be personally (though anonymously) helpful to others. It’s also fun to be a Hotline Volunteer, help answer the phones and welcome a visitor who called to ask about where local meetings are. Many calls are routine questions, but now and then, you get to try to allay the fears and awaken the hope of a suffering alcoholic, while telling him or her that there is hope.
“For us, if we neglect those who are still sick, there is unremitting danger to our own lives and sanity. Under these compulsions of self-preservation, duty and love, it is not strange that our society has concluded that it has but one high mission to carry the AA message to those who don’t know there is a way out.”, Pg 151 of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.