As the death toll in Myanmar climbs by the minute and the government maintains an iron grip over access to its borders, it's only natural for relief groups to feel discouraged, maybe defeated.

Enter Rand Walton and Project Hope.

The organization has kickstarted an effort to enlist volunteers, even as the prospects for helping remain dim.

"Currently Project Hope is looking into the opportunity of recruiting volunteers to possibly go over to Myanmar," explained Walton, the group's director of strategic communications, "to provide aid and relief to the people over there."

All promotion for the efforts has taken place online, with applications available on the group's web site at www.projecthope.org.

Ideally, Project Hope wants to send four teams of 50-70 people into Myanmar during the next four months.

"We have the resources and the capability to respond to provide aid," sighed Walton, "but until the government opens the door and lets us come in, we really can't at this point."

Project Hope has a modest 125-person staff at their headquarters in Clarke County. Globally, they have operations in 36 different countries and 80 different programs.

The slew of doctors, nurses and medical technicians that work for Project Hope are sorely needed- especially as the risk of disease spikes.

"There is a great potential that infectious diseases can spring up in these situations if they go unchecked, and if the people are basically
unprotected," added Walton.

Project Hope is also lending a hand in China, providing medical needs and aid to victims of the earthquake.

In 2004, the group sent a crew of 250 people to Indonesia to assist tsunami survivors.