On Tuesday, a national study that measures the number of volunteers in each state was released.
According to the report titled Volunteering in America, Americans volunteered 8.1 billion hours in 2010. That’s a drop from 2009, which is unfortunate, but according to the Corporation for National and Community Service — which issued the report — volunteering tends to decline as people get older. And, since the nation’s largest segment of population is aging Baby Boomers, volunteering has naturally declined.
In Maine, the oldest state in the nation, the decline was greater than the average across the country. That’s not good news for Mainers who rely on volunteers to stock food pantry shelves, read to elementary schoolchildren, staff fundraising events, deliver food to shut-ins and offer love and kindness as hospice volunteers, among a great many other things.
Nationally, the rate of decline was 0.5 percent. In Maine, the decline was 2 percent, dropping from 34 percent to 32 percent of all Mainers volunteering. That, according to the Maine Commission for Community Service, represents a loss of 5,000 volunteers.
There is good news, though.
While the overall number of volunteers is down, there is a significant jump in volunteering among teens. In fact, Maine is ranked second in the nation in the number of teens who volunteer. That’s really something we — as a state — can be proud of.
And, compared to other volunteers in this country, Mainers tend to volunteer more hours than many others; Maine is ranked fourth in the nation in hours worked per volunteer. That’s also something to be proud of because it demonstrates that local volunteers aren’t donating an hour here or there; they’re really devoted to helping their communities.
Even with the diminished percentage of volunteers here, the people who did volunteer last year are estimated to have donated over $1 billion worth of work statewide.
That’s a tremendous reflection of the generosity of Maine people and their willingness to help their neighbors.
Cheers to all, and we encourage others to get involved. As any volunteer will attest, when you volunteer to help another person, you always get more than you give.
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Speaking of volunteers, on Tuesday and Wednesday, 15-year-old Eddie Emerson and his pals battled to crown a victor in the all-volunteer Buttonwood Classic Wiffle Ball Championship at Emerson’s house in Lewiston.
This wasn’t just a Wiffle ball game. It was a fundraiser.
The teens and their families participating in the contest collected donations for homeless youths attending Lewiston High School. Many of the teens who participated attend LHS, so their efforts went to help their peers, people they know.
Cheers to their kindness.
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Anyone who embarks on a moderately strenuous 6-mile hike is going to have to eat something during the journey.
In Rumford, the Mahoosuc Land Trust has a terrific idea to celebrate a hike in Maine: Food. Gourmet food.
On Saturday, Aug. 20, anyone interested in joining the Land Trust to hike Whitecap Mountain is asked to bring a gourmet dish to share. They’re not talking about lugging the makings for crepes Suzette, just something more exotic than trail mix or the ever-favorite energy-packed peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Everybody is responsible for bringing their own plates, utensils and drinks, but the food will be shared. It’s kind of like taking a block party, or a Sunday family dinner, up the mountain.
The Land Trust is expecting a crowd, so let them know if you’re planning to join the party: info@mahoosuc.org.
jmeyer@sunjournal.com
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