LAST minute stand-in organiser of the Gympie Volunteers Expo at the Gympie Civic Centre, Murray Birchall, was pleased with the event's success.

Mr Birchall, there on behalf of Gympie Choice Support Services, said numbers could have been better but the event was being held for the first time.

"We've had a steady stream of people but this is the first year and there is a lot of learning involved for the next one," he said.

Mr Birchall said the event's objective was straight forward.

"It's about getting all of Gympie's organisations together to understand what each other is doing while celebrating the role of volunteers."

Many of the organisations supporting the expo were represented by eager volunteers and a number of exhibits reported a number of new recruits coming on board as the day progressed.

Guide Dogs Queensland volunteer Olywn Kerr said at midday the day was already a success with a handful of volunteers signing up.

"We are are always looking for volunteers," she said.

"We receive no government funding so rely on our fundraising efforts to support our services."

In Gympie alone, Guide Dogs Queensland services 34 clients while across the Sunshine Coast Region, that number grows to 370.

And with one in four expected to suffer legal blindness in their lifetime, the free service is invaluable to clients' independence.

Meanwhile, bubbly pair Ros Wild and Wendy Hanson represented the Gympie Art Gallery with a combined total of more than 20 years volunteering for the organisation.

"It's about meeting people, getting behind the scenes and giving to the community," Ms Wild said.

Numerous other community organisations were represented and the common thread was an agreement volunteers made their ongoing community work possible.