Esther Bradfield’s daughter, Angelina was working in Washington, D.C. when Esther can for a visit. Esther and Angelina made plans to spend some of their time together volunteering during a marathon. “We were made aware of a need with the USO. We would help the USO provide drinks and snacks for Marines during their marathon,” Esther said.
The morning arrived cold and rainy, and the hot cup of coffee or chocolate they served was a welcome treat for the men and women in the armed forces. “We were thankful that for the majority of our time of service the rain stopped. However, toward the end of the race, the wind and rain came back full force. A few of the Marines pitched an awning over the food table, but the wind blew it over. In order to keep it in place, the Marines stayed on duty, one at each pole of the tent, standing and holding the tent up until the last Marine had a chance to receive a drink or snack. What a sight, what a day, what a rewarding service! And we, in turn, were grateful for their service to us,” Esther said.
Showing posts with label value of volunteers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label value of volunteers. Show all posts
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Peace Corps volunteer total hits a 40-year high
By Ed O'Keefe
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 28, 2010; 10:08 PM
More people are volunteering with the Peace Corps than at any point since 1970, the agency said Thursday as it touted a 13 percent year-to-year increase in head count.
As of Sept. 30, there were 8,655 Peace Corps volunteers working in 77 host countries, up almost 1,000 volunteers from 2009, the agency said. The new total falls short of the 9,000 volunteers who worked with Peace Corps in 59 countries in 1970.
New host countries, extended volunteer stays and the agency's $400 million operating budget - its largest ever- contributed to the jump. The Peace Corps reopened programs in Colombia, Indonesia and Sierra Leone and reopened its suspended program in Madagascar, it said.
The agency's volunteer head count fell to a low of 5,380 in 1982 but climbed steadily through the 1980s. In 1985, Congress set a goal of having 10,000 volunteers in the field by 1992, a mark not yet reached.
The average age of Peace Corps volunteers is 28, but 7 percent are over age 50 (the oldest is 86). Nineteen percent of volunteers are minorities, 60 percent are women and 90 percent hold at least a bachelor's degree.
Education remains the most popular sector of service for volunteers, but others have worked on health and HIV/AIDS prevention, business development, youth development, and environmental and agricultural projects. Volunteers are almost evenly divided across Latin America, Africa and Europe/Asia, the agency said.
"Every day, Peace Corps volunteers strive to make a difference and have improved the lives of millions of people - not just in communities around the world, but also in their local communities in the United States once they return home," said Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams. "This is the legacy of [President John F. Kennedy's] concept of international service, an idea that continues to capture the imagination of thousands of service-minded Americans today."
More than 200,000 Americans have served in 139 countries since Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961. It became an independent federal agency in 1981.
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 28, 2010; 10:08 PM
More people are volunteering with the Peace Corps than at any point since 1970, the agency said Thursday as it touted a 13 percent year-to-year increase in head count.
As of Sept. 30, there were 8,655 Peace Corps volunteers working in 77 host countries, up almost 1,000 volunteers from 2009, the agency said. The new total falls short of the 9,000 volunteers who worked with Peace Corps in 59 countries in 1970.
New host countries, extended volunteer stays and the agency's $400 million operating budget - its largest ever- contributed to the jump. The Peace Corps reopened programs in Colombia, Indonesia and Sierra Leone and reopened its suspended program in Madagascar, it said.
The agency's volunteer head count fell to a low of 5,380 in 1982 but climbed steadily through the 1980s. In 1985, Congress set a goal of having 10,000 volunteers in the field by 1992, a mark not yet reached.
The average age of Peace Corps volunteers is 28, but 7 percent are over age 50 (the oldest is 86). Nineteen percent of volunteers are minorities, 60 percent are women and 90 percent hold at least a bachelor's degree.
Education remains the most popular sector of service for volunteers, but others have worked on health and HIV/AIDS prevention, business development, youth development, and environmental and agricultural projects. Volunteers are almost evenly divided across Latin America, Africa and Europe/Asia, the agency said.
"Every day, Peace Corps volunteers strive to make a difference and have improved the lives of millions of people - not just in communities around the world, but also in their local communities in the United States once they return home," said Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams. "This is the legacy of [President John F. Kennedy's] concept of international service, an idea that continues to capture the imagination of thousands of service-minded Americans today."
More than 200,000 Americans have served in 139 countries since Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961. It became an independent federal agency in 1981.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Vermont ranks number one in per-capita Peace Corps volunteers
(NECN: Anya Huneke, Burlington, VT) - When it comes to volunteering and helping others, Vermont is at the top of the list, according to new information released by the Peace Corps. And some who have worked with the Peace Corps say the rankings don't come as much of a surprise.
Five years ago, Erin Roche and her husband signed up for an experience that would take them halfway across the world- to the kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific.
They were looking for a change and an adventure that would benefit them- but more importantly, others.
They joined the Peace Corps, and for two years, taught English at a post-secondary school. They returned to the west coast to restart their careers...
Erin "But we got back to Seattle and our real lives weren't the same."
So, they moved to Vermont, and Roche got a job at the center for rural studies at the University of Vermont in Burlington.
Erin "Vermont seemed like a really interesting place- it had a lot of the same values that the Peace Corps makes you think about."
That could explain Vermont’s latest ranking by the Peace Corps as the number one volunteer-producing state - per capita - in the country.
According to data released this week, Vermont has the highest number of Peace Corps volunteers - almost 10 per 100-thousand.
Washington, D.C. ranks second- with almost eight, and Maine third- with almost six.
Not only is Vermont at the top of the list, but
its largest city, Burlington, is in the top ten in the country per capita for peace corps volunteers. Some are recent college graduates... but many others are residents-who are already involved in community service.">
Ned McMahon\Prof., Int'l Devel., UVM "Burlington is a progressive city- with a long history of civic engagement."
Ned McMahon - professor of international development at UVM - says he isn't surprised by the rankings.
Ned “It's not anything new, but it's certainly something I hope will continue."
Chances are, it will.
Jake Evans - a Peace Corps recruiter - says interest in Vermont has been steady, and applications across the country are up 18-percent over last year.
Jake: "It could be the economy... a new president... people looking for something else to do..."
Hisashi Kominami is among those considering the peace corps- after grad school at UVM.
Kominami ”It's something I always thought about doing."
And now, he says, may be as good a time as any.
Five years ago, Erin Roche and her husband signed up for an experience that would take them halfway across the world- to the kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific.
They were looking for a change and an adventure that would benefit them- but more importantly, others.
They joined the Peace Corps, and for two years, taught English at a post-secondary school. They returned to the west coast to restart their careers...
Erin "But we got back to Seattle and our real lives weren't the same."
So, they moved to Vermont, and Roche got a job at the center for rural studies at the University of Vermont in Burlington.
Erin "Vermont seemed like a really interesting place- it had a lot of the same values that the Peace Corps makes you think about."
That could explain Vermont’s latest ranking by the Peace Corps as the number one volunteer-producing state - per capita - in the country.
According to data released this week, Vermont has the highest number of Peace Corps volunteers - almost 10 per 100-thousand.
Washington, D.C. ranks second- with almost eight, and Maine third- with almost six.
Not only is Vermont at the top of the list, but
its largest city, Burlington, is in the top ten in the country per capita for peace corps volunteers. Some are recent college graduates... but many others are residents-who are already involved in community service.">
Ned McMahon\Prof., Int'l Devel., UVM "Burlington is a progressive city- with a long history of civic engagement."
Ned McMahon - professor of international development at UVM - says he isn't surprised by the rankings.
Ned “It's not anything new, but it's certainly something I hope will continue."
Chances are, it will.
Jake Evans - a Peace Corps recruiter - says interest in Vermont has been steady, and applications across the country are up 18-percent over last year.
Jake: "It could be the economy... a new president... people looking for something else to do..."
Hisashi Kominami is among those considering the peace corps- after grad school at UVM.
Kominami ”It's something I always thought about doing."
And now, he says, may be as good a time as any.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Christian Serve
Latest “Volunteering in America 2009” report shows a positive view of Christians and their willingness to serve their communities.
The report sites, “Over one-third of the nearly 62 million volunteers donate their time through religious organizations.
“Religious organizations are a key source of potential volunteers for nonprofit organizations,” said Nicola Goren, the corporation's chief executive officer. “Nonprofits looking to expand their reach and impact may find it beneficial to work more closely with religious organizations in their communities, especially in these tough economic times.”
To read an excellent article that provides a short overview of the report go to:
“Faith groups top others in getting volunteers” By Lindsay Perna, Religion News Service, Aug. 6, 2009, 6:06PM The Houston Chronicle, http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/6563306.html
Monday, August 10, 2009
Volunteerism in American Key Findings
• In 2008, 61.8 million Americans or 26.4 percent of the adult population contributed 8 billion hours of volunteer service worth $162 billion, using Independent Sector’s 2008 estimate of the dollar value of a volunteer hour ($20.25).
• Despite the challenges of a tough economic situation, the volunteering rate held steady between 2007 and 2008, while the number of volunteers slightly increased by about one million.
• Over 441,000 more young adults (age 16-24) volunteered in 2008 than 2007, representing an increase from about 7.8 million to more than 8.2 million.
• Neighborhood engagement levels have risen sharply since 2007,with a 31 percent increase in the number of people who worked with their neighbors to fix a community problem and a 17 percent increase in the number of people who attended community
meetings.
• As the economy slows and nonprofit organizations struggle to provide services on smaller budgets, volunteers become even more vital to the health of our nation’s communities. Between September 2008 and March 2009, more than a third (37%) of nonprofit organizations report increasing the number of volunteers they use, and almost half (48%) foresee increasing their usage of volunteers in the coming year.1 Almost no nonprofit organizations are showing a decrease in their volunteer usage.
• Volunteers were much more likely than non-volunteers to donate to a charitable cause in 2008, with 78.2 percent contributing $25 or more compared to 38.5 percent of non-volunteers.
Source:
http://www.volunteeringinamerica.gov/index.cfm
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