Volunteering

Let’s examine how we give of our time and treasure--and influence?

The concept of volunteering has become much more interesting to me in recent years as I’ve given much of my time and treasure in lieu of work/services for pay. I’ve volunteered in the past—but it’s only been recently when my time given for free—in service to others—has equaled or exceeded my time spent on compensated pursuits—that I’ve really examined its meaning in my life.

As I’ve written about extensively—living an examined life requires that we look at our relationship to things. So I am.

No matter how big and powerful the government gets, and the many services it provides, it can never take the place of volunteers. —Fortieth President of the United States Ronald Reagan

What is a volunteer?

According to Merriam-Webster the “noun” of volunteer is defined as:

1. a person who voluntarily undertakes or expresses a willingness to undertake a service; such as

one who enters into military service voluntarily

one who renders a service or takes part in a transaction while having no legal concern or interest

2. one who receives a conveyance or transfer of property without giving valuable consideration

As a verb, volunteer is used as:

intransitive verb: to offer oneself as a volunteer—volunteered to host the meeting

transitive verb: to offer or bestow voluntarily—volunteer one's services

As an adjective, volunteer is used as:

being, consisting of, or engaged in by volunteers—a volunteer army—busy with volunteer activities

growing spontaneously without direct human control or supervision especially from seeds lost from a previous crop—volunteer corn plants.

Whoa—that last one. Think of that definition in terms of a recent social justice cause.

The state of Tennessee is named The Volunteer State for its rapid response to war time action in early America.

President James Madison called on Tennessee to defend the Lower Country during the War of 1812 against Great Britain and asked to send 1,500 troops for the defense of the lower Mississippi region.

A separate expedition was placed under the command of Andrew Jackson, major general of the Tennessee militia. Those same "Vols" became famous for their victory defending New Orleans in late 1814-early 1815. It was a resounding victory (even if the war was technically over). Jackson’s status as a national hero skyrocketed, propelling him to the White House in 1828.

Moving along, I’m fascinated by the idea of volunteering for several reasons. Volunteering has a long and rich history in American society. As early as 1736 Benjamin Franklin started the first all-volunteer fire department after a ship fire burned down docks, warehouses, and surrounding residences. To this day over 70% of fire departments in the US are considered volunteer departments.

Much of the Revolutionary War (1773-1783) was waged by volunteer colonists alongside paid foreign soldiers and paid indigenous scouts.

For the purposes of this discussion—I will separate a discussion of non-profits which make up only a percentage of the total volunteer spirit and effort. Neighbors helping neighbors informally remains the most popular, spontaneous, and effective form of volunteering. When some of the nation’s largest health care organizations like Mayo Clinic are considered non-profits—we may want to re-think the category. When some of the nation’s biggest political action/activist committees are considered non-profits—we may want to rethink the category.

While in my first sentence above I mentioned both time and treasure as forms of my own volunteerism—I’d like to separate the two things for my purposes here. Giving your money to a cause is worthy and worthwhile but you’re not a volunteer—you’re a donor. Much of the donor class only gives money and never gives time or effort. Their intent to help can be very much different than their fellow citizens who give sweat equity to build homes, rescue animals, and serve those less fortunate. Tax breaks, validation, status, and influence can all be earmarks of giving money as a donor. The more you give the more sway you may have—or more accurately—the more control you may expect to have. Physical volunteering generally has little in the way of hierarchy except for an occasional supervisor or team leader to make sure that the tasks are efficiently assigned and the outcomes delivered.

I am quite literally shocked each election cycle by the sheer amount of money raised for political candidates and causes. I am quite literally shocked each time a new—or recycled—social justice cause bubbles to the surface—by the sheer amount of money and emotional capital that is expended.

Financial giving is important but obtuse. Physical volunteering has a direct impact on one or a few individuals, pets, and communities that is palpable.

The Idea vs. the Act

The Idea: I just signed up on ThinkKindness.Org for $5 per month and now I get their great emails and I’m in their database. I posted it on all my social media feeds!

The Act: Every day since her stroke, I walk my 89-year-old neighbor’s dog and bring her mail and make grocery runs. No one knows except her.

The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching. ― John Wooden

One way that AmeriCorp USA separates the Idea vs. the Act as such: formal vs. informal volunteering. Formal volunteering being done via donations and association with charitable organizations. Informal volunteering being done by helping a neighbor or someone in need—one on one. More on that data later.

The 1800s saw rapid growth and development of volunteerism in America. Much could be attributed to a religious awakening—known as The Great Awakening—a religious revival that swept the country. These new groups signed up volunteers to help abolish slavery, help the disadvantaged and support servicemen.

The YMCA—founded in 1851—aimed to put Christian principles into practice through youth activities including athletics—various skills development—all promoting Christianity and humanitarian work.

The American Red Cross was founded by Clara Barton after she volunteered for the European organization—providing aid to those injured in combat. The Red Cross found its stride in the US in the aftermath of the Johnstown Flood in 1889.

I see a need—and I have to fill it. Clara Barton

Americans also volunteered politically throughout the 1800s—a time of great social change. Much volunteering became about getting the word out—making sure the cause was heard. Temperance, Abolitionists, and Women’s Suffrage were some of the first movements that encouraged citizens to use their voice in changing society.

When the French philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville traveled the country in the 1830s, he observed, “Americans use associations to give fêtes, to found seminaries, to build inns, to raise churches, to distribute books, to send missionaries to the antipodes; in this manner they create hospitals, prisons, schools.” 

The 1900s saw the creation some of America’s biggest volunteer organizations—including Lions Club, Rotary, Kiwanis, Junior Leagues, and Salvation Army. All of these were volunteer organizations at their core—and only in later decades would they become powerful financial charitable powerhouses.

In January of 2023 the US Census Bureau released its 2021 Civic Engagement and Volunteering Supplement—the most comprehensive such guide ever released.

Americorps.gov partners with the US Census Bureau to facilitate and to then summarize the extensive survey and research. Their 3-page summary document is here.

Nearly 51% of the US population age 16 and over, or 124.7 million people, informally helped their neighbors between September 2020 and 2021 at the height of the pandemic, according to the latest Volunteering and Civic Life in America research.

In response to a separate question, more than 23% of people in that age group, or 60.7 million, said they formally volunteered through an organization during the same period. 

More from the Summary:

—An estimated 23.2 percent of Americans or 60.7 million people formally volunteered with organizations between September 2020 and 2021.

—In total, these volunteers served an estimated 4.1 billion hours with an economic value of $122.9 billion.

—The formal volunteering rate dropped seven percentage points—from 30 percent in 2019 to 23 percent in 2021. This is the largest change since AmeriCorps and the US Census Bureau began collecting this data in 2002.

—The formal volunteering rate for women dropped eight percentage points. For men it dropped five.

—Women continue to volunteer at a higher rate than men.

—Generation X (aged 41 to 56 in 2021) had the high (27 percent) in terms of formal volunteering.

—Parents with children under 18 formally volunteer at a higher rate than parents without children in their household (21 percent).

The data on Informal Volunteering showed:

—The rate of Americans informally helping others remained stable between the 2019 and 2021 surveys.

—Nearly 51 percent of Americans or 124.7 million people exchanged favors with their neighbors between September 2020 and 2021.

—Baby boomers had the highest informal helping rate (59 percent) of all generations.

—Veterans helped their neighbors at a rate of 59 percent, eight percentage points higher than non-veterans.

—People with children under 18 informally helped their neighbors at a higher rate (58 percent) than those without children in their household (49 percent).

What does all this mean?

Americans tend to volunteer at a very high rate—both formally and informally. Americans also tend to give more money charitably than any other nation—per-capita—or total amount—or by any other measure.

Given all that positive data—how much more could we do if we were focused on actually helping others in need?

It seems to me upon examination that even a small diversion of political donations and social activism—where the jury is out as to whether it actually helps anyone or rather simply enriches organizations with unscrupulous or nefarious intent—would help. We could do so much more to lift up other Americans and citizens of other countries in the world by simply putting hands on in our own communities.

How much money and how many man hours are wasted in these national charitable organizations on overstaffing, inefficiencies, grandiose mission statements, and outright corruption? Black Lives Matter anyone? All that money raised—and all those peaceful demonstrations and destruction—and all the political and social currency spent—and whose lives were improved save a handful of corrupt administrators? Africa over the decades? Haiti? PETA?

I am not condemning all of them—there are many worthwhile national non-profits. Take a look at the public data around how much of your donated dollars actually make it to the street. Many veteran organizations like Tunnels for Towers are remarkably applying over 90% of total money raised. All of their media is donated—and all of their spokespeople are volunteering their time.

How much money and how many man hours are wasted on corrupt and unqualified political candidates? How much spent on a political party? How many of those dollars are turned against you in untruthful and rage-inducing commercial media buys and social media campaigns? How much of it goes to supporting the huge bureaucratic infrastructure that you’d just as soon see shrink or disappear? Quit giving them your money. Quit giving them your time? They don’t care about you—but they are utterly dependent upon you.

Marching in a parade waving a sign around or showing up at a political rally is NOT volunteering. It is not helping others—it is helping you feel better about yourself and your cause.

Americans will give. That’s a given. Maybe it’s time each of examine where our time and treasure go?

Are they spending your money wisely or are they stealing it? Only by giving your time directly can you guarantee the outcome.

Aren’t you better off making an impact locally in your own community where you can see the beneficiaries and the outcomes firsthand—where you can serve and contribute with a smile on your face rather than an angry scowl? With a hand outstretched—rather than clenched in a fist?

Examine it.