Volunteer Washington: A Case for Community Volunteerism 2016-2020

From the beginning of our country, “voluntary associations” have been a hallmark of America. By coming together, ordinary people engage in problem-solving and collaborate with government and business to address issues that no single sector can solve.

Volunteers:
• Deliver critical services—from volunteer fire fighters and search and rescue, to delivering meals to seniors and staffing phone lines at sexual assault centers
• Tutor, teach, mentor, and coach young people
• Contribute medical, legal, marketing, design, technology, and planning advice and other skills
• Build houses and schools, dig wells, and clean up the environment
• Serve as companions to those with disabilities and mental illness, care for abandoned animals, raise funds, and much
more.

The Corporation for National and Community Services (CNCS) reported that in 2014 33% of Washington residents volunteered, placing the state 11th in the nation in terms of volunteer rates. This amounts to 1.61 million volunteers contributing 155.3 million hours of service, valued conservatively at $3.6 billion.

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