WDBJ7 Roanoke News and Weather NRV Lynchburg Danville | UPDATE: Volunteers turn out in Charlottesville to search for missing VT student

UPDATE: Volunteers turn out in Charlottesville to search for missing VT student

UPDATED: Saturday 11:55 p.m.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) -- More than 500 volunteers are continuing the search for a Virginia Tech student who went missing in Charlottesville last month.

Twenty-year-old Morgan Dana Harrington was last seen Oct. 17 after she became separated from her friends at a Metallica concert.

A three-day search for Harrington began Friday with about 360 volunteers, but they turned up no new leads. On Saturday, there was a 30-minute wait for volunteers to register.

The search was organized by Texas-based Laura Recovery Center, named for a girl who was abducted and slain when she was 12.

The group hopes to have a 3-square-mile area searched by Sunday evening.

Virginia State Police have followed up on 350 tips so far. A reward for Harrington's return is at $150,000.

UPDATED: Friday 4:15 p.m.

Volunteers are taking the search for Morgan Harrington into their own hands.

Hundreds from around the country are combing Charlottesville and points nearby, hoping to find some trace of the missing Virginia Tech student.

Through heavy brush and piles of leaves, searchers scour the woods around Charlottesville.

It's not far from where 20-year-old Morgan Harrington was last seen three weeks ago.

"Just hoping we find something or someone that knows where Morgan is," says volunteer Amy Bishop.

Bishop is one of hundreds who put aside their Friday plans to become part of a major search effort.

"I'm a Mom. I have two kids, and I couldn't imagine what the Harringtons are going through," says Bishop.

Like Bishop, every searcher is a volunteer, normal folks who just want to help.

"We're very happy that all these people are here and we hope they do find some information," says Joe Rader with the Virginia State Police.

Rader says investigators have done their own searches, but nothing like this.

"They're going to be able to do a lot for us, and it's a very organized search. It's not just someone coming out looking around," says Rader.

The effort's being led by someone who knows a thing or two about searches.

Bob Smither's daughter was murdered after going missing in 1997.

"Frankly, the nation came together to help us search for her," says Smither.

Smither started the Laura Recovery Center in his daughter's honor.

"The whole idea is to engage the community to do what law enforcement can not do," says Smither.

Although Smither's daughter wasn't found in time, he's still holding out hope that Harrington's sighting at the Copely bridge won't be the last time anyone sees her alive.

"Missing children do come home, so I'm always hopeful," says Smither.

Until they do find something, time is the enemy, and searchers aren't leaving any piece of ground untouched.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO HELP WITH THE SEARCH:

The Laura Recovery Center will be organizing search teams Saturday and Sunday morning, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Small teams will leave to search an assigned area every hour.

Volunteers should report to search headquarters at 900 Natural Resources Drive in Charlottesville.

Take the Fontaine Avenue exit off the Route 29 Bypass in Charlottesville, then make a right onto Ray C. Hunt Drive.

Signs will direct you from there.

Organizers ask that you be at least 18 years of age.

Bring a photo ID and good hiking shoes.

From Earlier:

Hundreds of volunteers are lending a helping hand in the search for Morgan Harrington.

The Virginia Tech student's been missing since a rock concert in Charlottesville last month.

Thursday night, people in Charlottesville filed into the Cavalier Inn to learn how to help with several searches planned this weekend.

State troopers will help with the search.

If you missed Thursday night's informational meeting, don't worry, you can still help.

Anyone interested in joining the search parties needs to meet at the Department of Forestry on Natural Resources Drive in  Charlottesville at nine o'clock Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning.  If you have any questions, call 434-960-0401.