CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The parents of a missing Virginia Tech student are asking for volunteers for a search party being organized to scour the area where she disappeared two weeks ago.

Morgan Dana Harrington's mother used the news conference in Charlottesville to speak directly to her daughter: "Be strong,"  Gil Harrington said. "We are trying to find you. Hang on." 

That was not her only message: "To the person who has taken Morgan from us, please let her go," she said. "She has so much more to live and so much more to give. Please let her come back to her family. We need her."

Morgan Harrington was last seen October 17 outside the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she was separated from a group of friends while attending a Metallica concert. Police have not definitely said she was abducted, but Harrington's parents clearly believe there was foul play in her disappearance.

» findmorgan.com

Morgan's father, Dan Harrington, promised not to give up searching for his daughter and asked for volunteers to come out this weekend.

"We welcome and invite anyone who is able to volunteer their time this weekend to help in a community search for our daughter," he said. "We will stop at nothing until she is found and we are eternally grateful for any additional support that the community can offer in helping bring Morgan home."

Dan and Gil Harrington were joined by Ed Smart, the father of Elizabeth Smart, at the news conference Wednesday in Charlottesville. Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped from her Salt Lake City bedroom on June 5, 2002, and was found nine months later. A handyman who had worked for the Smart family was charged in her kidnapping, but was found incompetent to stand trial.

Ed Smart pleaded for the public's help in finding Morgan Harrington, saying the smallest tip could be the key.

"You may think it's very insignificant," but any small piece could be the one that brings her home, Smart said.

He added that he never gave up hope about his daughter.

"I believed that she was still out there and felt she would come home and that's what we're hoping for with Morgan," Smart said. 

Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller says authorities have received several leads since they released a timeline of Harrington's movements on Oct. 28.

Witnesses saw someone matching her description in two nearby parking areas, and she was last seen on a bridge that leads to a commercial area of Charlottesville, police said.

Investigators say they have traced Harrington's movements from the time she was separated from her friends up until 9:30 p.m., when she was spotted near a railroad bridge not far from the area.

"Unfortunately it's getting to 9:35 that we cannot do," Geller said Wednesday.

There's a $150,000 reward for the safe return of Morgan Harrington. Anyone with information is asked to call the tip line: (434) 352-3467.

 Email To Friend