Our view: Year-round giving

Fri., Nov. 24, 2006

The Spokesman-Review

Volunteering: Who does it

“About 65 million people volunteer at least once during the year.

“28 percent of Americans volunteer.

“One-fourth of men and about one-third of women do volunteer work. Women volunteer at higher rates than men across all age groups and educational levels.

“Women and men ages 35 to 44 are the most likely to volunteer, closely followed by those ages 45 to 54.

“Teens have a relatively high volunteer rate, perhaps reflecting an emphasis on volunteer activities in schools.

“Volunteer rates are lowest among people in their early 20s and those 65 and over.

“Married people volunteer at a higher rate than singles.

“Parents with children under age 18 are more likely to volunteer than people without children of that age.

“Among employed persons, 31 percent do volunteer work, compared with 26 percent of those unemployed and 24 percent not in the labor force.

“Among the employed, part-time workers were more likely than full-time workers to participate in volunteer activities.

Source: U.S. Department Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2005 report.

In the finest restaurants, men and women of the wait staff anticipate a customer’s every need. Water glasses never dip below half empty. Dishes are cleared away with a cheery “All through here?” even when every crumb has been devoured.

This week, men and women without a lot of money sat down to free Thanksgiving meals throughout the Inland Northwest, put on by churches and community groups. The wait staffs, made up of community volunteers, could anticipate every need because there were so many volunteers willing to fill water glasses and whisk away empty plates with a cheery “All through here?”

On this traditional day of frenzied shopping, it’s important to note that at holiday time, the Inland Northwest’s “social capital” is being spent everywhere, too. Women and men donate time, money and goods to holiday-themed charitable opportunities. They open their pocketbooks to the Christmas Fund, Christmas Tree Elegance, Festival of Trees, Toys for Tots and to Salvation Army kettle ringers, among a multitude of others.

The challenge is to keep the giving spirit alive all year. As Marilee Roloff, executive director of Volunteers of America Spokane, reminds: “People are hungry every day of the week.”

During the holidays, people count their blessings and often give to others in gratitude. Giving beyond just the holidays – through donations, volunteer work or both – requires a deeper commitment. Some year-round incentives might include:

“Giving as an antidote to despair. Volunteering can take the edge off the bleakness of local and world news. “With the trouble in the world, people are looking inward and asking ‘What is it all about? I better do something to help,’ ” Roloff said.

“Giving as a safeguard against “affluenza.” The journal Science recently published a study showing that even having fantasies of great wealth resulted in selfish and anti-social behavior. Other studies, meanwhile, show correlations between charitable giving and satisfaction with life. And volunteer activities can actually increase longevity because they help people socialize with others.

So, let the holiday giving begin – and continue.

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