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published on 06/18/2010
Local Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Volunteers Help to Create Greatest Spike in U.S. Volunteerism Since 2003
By
Senior Neighbors, a ministry of Alexian Brothers
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Despite difficult economic times, the number of Americans volunteering in their communities jumped by 1.6 million last year, the largest increase in six years, according to a report released this week by the Corporation for National and Community Service.
The Corporation’s annual Volunteering in America report found that 63.4 million Americans volunteered through a formal organization last year, giving more than 8.1 billion hours of volunteer service worth an estimated $169 billion.
The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Alexian Brothers Senior Neighbors has a membership of more than 324 active volunteers over the age of 55. These senior volunteers helped the Chattanooga reach an average of 45 hours per resident - ranking them 17th within the 75 mid-size cities listed in the report.
Compared to the city, state and national volunteer rankings, Chattanooga’s RSVP volunteers donate well above the average amount of volunteer time. Collectively, RSVP volunteers gave 69,056 hours of their time in 2009. That’s an average of 213 hours per person for the year, compared to the reported Chattanooga volunteer average of 45 hours. Independent Sector Research estimates the monetary value of the hours served by RSVP volunteers to be $1,439,833 for 2009.
RSVP volunteers serve in 66 different jobs at 38 non-profit organizations in the Chattanooga area. As non-profits have seen a decrease in monetary resources, their reliance on volunteers has grown. Often times, non-profit agencies have become better at incorporating volunteers’ skills in what have traditionally been employee roles. Utilizing volunteers to their full potential helps the agencies and retains the interests of the volunteers.
In the most recent Chattanooga RSVP volunteer survey, respondents listed factors that motivate them to volunteer. According to Colleen Combs, RSVP director, “two of the top motivations for volunteering are the desire to help people and the opportunity to make a difference.”
For more information on volunteerism in the Chattanooga area and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, please call Colleen Combs at (423) 668-2141.
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