A Positive Rising Trend; Volunteering in America

There has been a rising trend in today's popular culture to give more to our communities. One year ago a law was passed called the "Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act" that rumors to be one of the reasons volunteering in America has dramatically increased. Some point to the unemployment rate and suffering economy to be a high factor in reasoning as well. Whatever the reason be, it is a positive movement that we can all only hope to see continue and increase.

Teenagers are the shown to be on top of what is the new trend of the year, and many seem to be jumping on board volunteering. Several high schools have been involved in the new trend now by having required volunteer time for teens. The youth that do participate in volunteering around their community have shown to have better self confidence along with better grades and less of a reason to get involved in illegal activity. Families that have been more involved with volunteering have reported that it not only brings them closer together, it helps the economy around their own homes. There are many places and websites that offer resources on volunteering, fundraising, raising awareness, and staying informed. Our own government even has a National Service website to help with the resources for those who may not know how to get started, or simply want to find out more in their own community.

Volunteering is rarely considered work, in fact, many consider it a fun activity and a new way to meet people, get closer with those you know and help out the community and economy where you live. Those who see a lack of volunteering in their own area can even start a volunteer organization to get things started. When starting an organization it is said best to assess the community and citizens to see its best needs and create an engagement strategy best suited for success. Community factors such as higher rates of high school and college graduates, more homeowners, and more resources available such as nonprofit organizations seem to have a higher volunteer rate. Those with fewer resources in smaller towns are trying to make waves and create more available to help out their community and fit into this rising trend.

The number of volunteers in America has increased dramatically over the last year, a large leap of 1.6 million more people taking part according to a large supporter of volunteering acts such as AmeriCorps. That is the largest number increase in the last six years according to the Corporation for National and Community Service. With 63.4 million Americans who volunteered last year, and approximately 8.1 billion hours put into their communities and $169 billion donated and received in national fund raisers. Religious communities and organizations are still at the top for most volunteer time and funds given to America, although social service agencies are on the rise.

The many ways to fit into this positive trend are fundraising, collecting or distributing of food and can goods, tutoring those in need of education, and providing labor such as helping build someone a home whom is at a loss of their own. There is something almost everyone can do to give back, and these unselfish acts do not go unnoticed. More volunteers will say it gives back to you in more ways than one. This generosity can be looked at as one of America's better trends of our time.

Cited resources:

http://www.americorps.gov/

http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/role_impact/performance_research.asp