Alaska Ranks Fourth in Volunteerism

By: State: Alaska | Source: AARP.org

On September 12, 2008, in a bipartisan collaboration, Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) introduced the "Serve America Act" to expand opportunities for service for all Americans.

Volunteer service brings out the best in people and strengthens communities. Alaskans rank high in volunteerism at 39 percent or fourth highest in the nation—compared to the average national volunteer rate of 27 percent.

AARP commissioned a study "More to Give" on volunteerism and found that four out of every ten Americans aged 44-79 indicate they are very or somewhat likely to increase the amount of time they spend volunteering in the next five years. Nearly the same proportion (39 percent) of retired Americans report they increased volunteering after they retired.

What motivates someone to volunteer? Among people who volunteer on a regular basis 67 percent are motivated to volunteer if it helps someone in need; 62 percent out of a feeling of personal responsibility to help others; 55 percent out of a need to improve their community; 54 percent to give greater meaning to their lives; 51 percent to make a difference on an issue or problem/stay healthy and active; and 45 percent to express a religious belief or value.

Fifty five percent of Americans are very interested or already participate in at least one established volunteer program, such as Meals on Wheels, Senior Companions, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Foster Grandparents, Driver Safety, or Tax-Aide, but what was surprisingly to learn is that nearly seven in ten non-volunteers report that they have never been asked to serve. Existing research shows that when personally asked to serve, more than eight in ten will do so.

Many people want to expand their time volunteering for something worthwhile while even more people are waiting to be asked to volunteer. AARP's report shows this country is still a place in which people can, as our founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus noted, "live up to our better selves, to believe well of our fellow men and by doing so to help create the good, to experiment, to explore, to change and to grow."

On March 26, 2009, the U.S. Senate and on March 31, 2009, the U.S. House passed the Serve America Act, a bill that strengthens and expands civic engagement and volunteer opportunities for people of all ages. This legislation asks 175,000 more Americans to give a year of service to address specific national challenges, thereby expanding the number of such service participants to 250,000.

The bill is devoted to enhancing service opportunities so people can apply a lifetime of acquired skills to address a range of identified service needs.

The Serve America Act helps to provide service opportunities for people of all ages. People should be encouraged to give back to their communities—to create the good.