Volunteering: It's the Right Thing

from The New Citizens Press 

One Saturday morning, my 14-year old daughter asked me to help her sew and stuff over 50 “Care Bears” at our dining table.  I asked her what they were for.  She explained that her school’s service club was making these dolls for little children who are diagnosed with cancer at a Children’s Hospital.  “That’s a great volunteer project,” I said to her.  She just looked at me puzzled and said, “Dad it’s not just a project, it’s something I want to do.”  

National Volunteer Week was April 21 – April 27.  The week was about engaging individuals in service, inspiring others to join in a movement to advance the common good, recognizing outstanding volunteers and giving meaningful ways of thanks from both the recipient and the public. 

National Volunteer week was created in 1974 when President Nixon signed an executive order to establish the week as an annual celebration of volunteering.  Every year since that time, every U.S. President, along with many governors, mayors and other elected officials, have signed proclamations or publicly promoted National Volunteer Week.

Volunteering has always been an American Ideal woven into the fabric by a wide-spectrum of citizens:  From high school students tutoring to retirees delivering hot meals to seniors or professionals providing pro-bono service to organized labor groups building an access ramp at a home of person with physical disability.

Never before have volunteering been more popular than now.  If you put these deeds in dollar valuation consider this:  If approximately 400 non-profit organizations in Mid-Michigan who benefit the efforts of possibly 10 volunteers at each organization averaging 10 hours a month or 120 hours a year – that’s about 4,800 hours performed.  Even If you factor in a minimum hourly wage of the in-kind services it would amount to about $35,200.   That extra pair of hands have leveraged employee skills and talents for the benefit of nonprofits.

With over 85 million baby boomers and 50 million Gen Xers, there is a gap among the workforce in relation to the idea of work-life balance.  For baby boomers, its balancing family and work; for the Gen X it’s the fluctuation and mobilization of family and self interest.   And of course, the 76 million Gen Y or Millenials are more altruistic and have no clear division between work and family.  According to a recent Deloitte survey, more than half of the workers in this group prefer employment at companies that provide volunteer opportunities.  Progressive Companies who provide time-off for community service are successfully luring this new pool of young talent.

Another good example of this generation of giving back is through the Alternative Spring Break program coordinated by volunteer organizations and collegiate campuses across the nation.  This spring, many college students opted out of the traditional “Spring Break” fling and spent their week refurbishing old homes in high-risk neighborhoods in Florida.  Others convened in New Orleans area to help with the clean-up from the aftermath of Katrina. 

No other nation in the world is more willing to give of itself through volunteerism than Americans.  This was especially evident in the late 19^th and 20^th century during wartime and pre-and post depression.  Agencies born out of these movements include United Way, Red Cross, Boys & Girl Scouts, Catholic Charities and Salvation Army.  Naturally faith-based organizations have always been heralded as volunteers with spirit.

With the arrival of spring, there’s even more of a reason to get out and do some good.  The call to action for volunteers is not to give a “Hand out” but a “Hand up.”  

Now, if only I could clone and harness my daughter’s passion.  Imagine what a better world this would be.