How you can help your community

Every day, millions of people contribute to the common good by giving their time and energy to help people in need, protect the environment and make their communities better places to live and work. Based on data collected through a partnership with the United States Census Bureau (USCB) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, VolunteeringInAmerica.gov reports that in 2008, approximately 62 million Americans volunteered through organizations, providing a little more than 8 billion hours of service. The data also indicates the rates of volunteerism throughout the nation held steady despite the recession. Moreover, the number of Americans who contribute to their communities in less formal ways showed a significant increase in 2008, with 31 percent more people reporting that they joined forces with neighbors to tackle a community issue and an increase of 17 percent in the number of people who reported attending community meetings. By the people, for the people When it comes to pitching in to help the community, everyone has something to bring to the table. Schools can always benefit from the volunteer work of professional educators or those who just enjoy working with children. It might be a grandmother filling in for story time, a retired administrator working to get a Head Start program going or community members who volunteer to tutor individual children. In addition, there is always a need for mentors and individuals who are interested in working with children through organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs (www.bgca.org), Big Brothers and Sisters (www.bbbs.org) and Girl Scouts/Boy Scouts. Many school districts also offer classes for adults that are taught by people from all walks of life. In addition, libraries often have ongoing adult literacy and children’s reading programs that also depend on volunteer staffing. Smaller municipalities rely on volunteers for firefighting, park maintenance, health clinics, nursing facilities, and veterans’ hospitals. Additional help is needed at senior centers, nursing homes, animal shelters and hospice care. Other volunteer options include providing transportation for seniors, preparing food at homeless shelters and meal sites, and donating blood. If you break it, they will come Trades people, artisans, professionals, and administrators all have a lot to give. Events sponsored by communities and organizations not only provide help for people in need, but offer great opportunities to gain experience in a number of fields. Two organizations that focus on housing include Rebuilding Together (www.rebuildingtogether.org), which provides home repairs for seniors and those on fixed incomes, and Habitat for Humanity (www.habitat.org), which engages volunteers to build low-income housing in all parts of the world. Even in the smallest of communities, friends and neighbors are taking up the slack in both the public and private sectors to help ensure that our most vulnerable citizens don’t go unnoticed. For more information about how to give back to your community, go to VolunteerMatch.com.