In a just released Study by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), Orlando ranks 46th and has a volunteer rate of 19.7 percent– a mere fifth from the bottom of the barrel when it comes to percentage of adults who volunteer.
Miami had the unenviable distinction of ranking 50th among major US cities with a volunteer rate of 14.5 percent.
Several non-profit heads attribute such poor performances to poverty rates and economic woes, while others suggest that home ownership, education levels and the number of new immigrants also play into volunteer and civic-minded activities.
With the current economic recession, job insecurity and rising numbers of foreclosures, some worry that Orlando is particularly vulnerable when it comes to would-be volunteers. This could spell further disaster for “City Beautiful” given the major benefits that are derived from volunteering—its economic contribution to society on the one hand and the building of strong and cohesive communities (social capital), on the other.
Stephen Goldsmith, Board Chairman, CNCS, notes that “With more people in need– losing houses, losing jobs—there are more people to serve.” Says Goldsmith, “You have fewer people helping and more people needing help.”
Robert Grimm, Director of Research for CNCS thinks that there is also factor at work, that is “the leaky bucket” of volunteerism.
Nationally, about 33 percent of those who volunteer in a given year do not show up the next year. Says, Grimm, “There’s interest in volunteering in a lot of people, but they’re just not staying with it.”
The Study noted that while nationally, the volunteer rate fell to 26.2 percent in 2007– the second year in a row– on the positive side, the report does conclude that “volunteer intensity” is growing, with volunteers (34%) contributing more than 100 hours in a year– the highest rate recorded in that category since 2002.
In terms of regions, the Midwest led the volunteer rate at 31.1 percent. This was followed by the West at 26.1 percent, the South with 24.7 percent and the Northeast at 23.4 percent.
By state, Utah had the highest rate, 43.9 percent. This was followed by Nebraska, Minnesota, Alaska and Montana. Nevada had the lowest state rate– 17.7 percent, with Florida and New York the next lowest.
The other major cities that did worse than Orlando are, Riverside, California with a ranking of 47 and a volunteer rate of 19.7 percent, New York City came in 48th place with a 17.1 percentage rate, and Las Vegas 49th with a 14.7 percent volunteer rate.
