From Ranks of Jobless, a Flood of Volunteers

“I laughed,” said Ms. Teisch, 39. “I just said, ‘That’s great, but I kind of want to add a zero to that number.’ ”

Ms. Teisch said the experience — she works in the kitchen, the office, wherever she is needed — has been a therapeutic tonic for her workaholic, Type-A personality. A bonus is the chance to bond with her fellow unemployed volunteers.