Service Impacts
As part of the Volunteering in America (VIA) 2011 release, you can view a series of profiles that highlight how volunteers help solve community issues through community based organizations and public private partnerships such as Jumpstart, Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV), the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service , and IBM. This series shows the myriad of ways that volunteers participate in service by describing what the organization is working toward, how they use volunteers, the story of a volunteer, and community benefits.
- Athens/Limestone Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Alabama
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The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Alabama, serving both Athens and Limestone County, AL, gives adults aged 55 and older the opportunity to volunteer their time and abilities to both nonprofit and public agencies in and around their community. Athens/Limestone County RSVP volunteers primarily work on disaster response, education, financial planning, and care giving.
- Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service (ICVS)
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Every year, communities across the nation prepare for, respond to, and begin to recover from natural disasters. In 2008, historic flooding devastated Eastern Iowa, damaging some 5,390 houses and 1,049 commercial properties, displacing thousands of people, and causing 86 of Iowa’s 99 counties to be declared disaster zones. As flooding continues to be an ongoing challenge for Iowans, the need for volunteers has never been greater.
- Jumpstart
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Children in low-income neighborhoods start kindergarten 60 percent behind their wealthier peers and without the skills they need to be successful. Before even entering kindergarten, the average cognitive scores of children in the lowest socio-economic status (SES) group are 60 percent behind the scores of the highest SES group.
- Hands On Nashville (HON), Nashville, TN
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In the aftermath of the worst flood in recorded history, the city of Nashville saw thousands of residents displaced from their homes and extensive damage to historic landmarks. The disaster eventually claimed several lives in Nashville and Davidson County and caused over $1.5 billion in damage, dampening the spirit and song of Music City.
- HELP!Line Center of Sioux Falls, SD
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Where can I go to renew my driver's license? Are there any non-profits in my area looking for volunteers? Who can I call if I’m feeling lonely? Many people do not know where to find the answers to these questions. A person may need assistance, but he or she does not know where to find it. A person may want to volunteer his or her time to help their communities, but many do not know what opportunities are available.
- Virginia Beach Office of Volunteer Resources
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When Mary Russo founded the Virginia Beach Office of Volunteer Resources in 1978, she envisioned an organization run by volunteers that would engage members of the community in all aspects of city government. “I realized that without citizen involvement, there’s no way a city can be all things to all people,” says Mary, who still volunteers her time as head of the organization. "We needed to start partnering with the city to improve the public services that we need and want."
- Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans
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Veterans returning from war can face multiple challenges as they transition to civilian life. Every night, there are more than 107,000 homeless veterans across the United States without a place to stay. Almost 1.5 million other veterans are considered at risk for homelessness due to poverty and lack of support.
- Lutheran Family Services, Omaha, NE
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Military deployment is hard on all members of a family. When a loved one serves abroad, families back home often struggle to get by without him or her. Upon returning home, it is difficult for service men and women to fall back into their roles in the home and community. Often, these men and women need assistance to help them regain a normal routine.
- Hillside Family of Agencies, Rochester, NY
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All youth need a network of support to grow, learn, and achieve. However some youth, including those with developmental or learning disabilities, those who are living in foster care and seeking forever families, and those with mental health challenges need additional support.
- Hands On Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL
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When your mission is to serve one of the biggest, most expansive cities in the United States, you need a lot of helping hands. Thanks in part to a partnership with Disney, HandsOn Jacksonville had more than 10,000 sets of hands come through its doors in just the first three months of 2010. Those families and individuals made a huge contribution by collecting 10 tons of food for Second Harvest, creating disaster preparedness kits, and donating books and art supplies.
- Civic Works, Baltimore, MD
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The young people who work with Civic Works bring energy, enthusiasm, and a positive effect to the community around them. Civic Works connects volunteers—mostly between the ages of 18 and 25—with service projects in the Baltimore area.
- Public Allies, Milwaukee, WI
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The nonprofit organizations that serve educational, health, and other needs in our communities are facing increased pressure to do more with fewer resources. AmeriCorps programs like Public Allies have stepped into that gap to help organizations with support and volunteers that are sorely needed.
- Harvesters - The Community Food Network Topeka, KS
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Every day, millions of people across the country go hungry. Food is one of the most basic human needs, but many do not have access to it and may not know when or where they will find their next meal.
- Higher Achievement, Washington, DC
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Research in the United States has shown that there is an achievement gap in academic performance between students of different races and socioeconomic statuses. In Washington, D.C., approximately 85 percent of white students score proficient or advanced on standardized tests, but only 50 percent or less of black and Hispanic students score at those rates.