Did you know Minnesota has the fourth-highest volunteer rate in the nation? That is according to the Corporation for National and Community Service. It lists Minnesota as having 34.9 percent of the state’s population volunteering in 2013. This is certainly encouraging news, but it didn’t surprise me all that much.
When you think about it, this plays right into the common theme of “Minnesota Nice,” which is something I am constantly proud of. Our state is known for our great generosity, caring and looking out for others. We are not ones to think just of ourselves; we are always thinking about what we can do for others.
According to the same findings, the total amount of volunteering in the whole of the United States is also very astonishing: 63 million Americans volunteered for 7.7 billion hours in 2013. The CNCS also estimated the economic equivalent of this volunteering at $173 billion. That is a larger amount of money than the outputs of entire countries – all from the free service of the people of the United States.
But other data shows a worrying trend. The CNCS reported the percentage of Americans volunteering in 2013 was about 25.5 percent, down from almost 29 percent in 2005. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, part of the Department of Labor, has more recent data that confirms the slide. Less than 25 percent of Americans volunteered from September of 2014 to September of 2015.
To me, this is very concerning. America is often defined as a nation where we help our neighbors. We are a nation that works together to create opportunities and better lives for ourselves and our children. If volunteering continues to decline, we may start to lose this vital part of our culture.
Some might attribute this decline in volunteering to the increasing hustle and digitization of our modern world. It seems as if everyone has a million things going on at once. But not once have I seen that deter people from making their own contributions.
In fact, throughout my whole life, I’ve been surrounded by great role models for volunteering and service. Whether through my family, church or school, I have met many people who put much of their time into volunteering. The idea of helping others has been ingrained into my head since childhood, and I remember always wanting to be that same way and make an impact in the world.
Many my age share these sentiments. For as long as I’ve been in school, I’ve known many students who have devoted countless hours to service. A great many young people I know go above and beyond, seeking every volunteer opportunity they can. For them, service is something that is prized, not viewed as a chore.
This is what makes volunteering so important to me. Through the great examples I have had, service and volunteering is something I feel I should make a contribution to. It’s a way to give back to the people who have done so much and helped me get to this point in life.
I’m inspired every day by the efforts of great volunteers from all ages and walks of life. Throughout history, there are people who have changed the world through such actions. Many of them didn’t receive awards or praise. There are many who never made the history books, but they carried on nonetheless.
Even with our busy lives, any type of volunteerism makes an impact. Whether through a religious organization, school or charitable organization, every hour can change lives, whether it’s helping a neighbor or siblings with homework. We can all make a difference. Nothing is ever too small. The people who believe they can change the world are those who do.
Connor Kockler is a Sauk Rapids-Rice High School student. He enjoys writing, politics and news, among other interests.
