Volunteer Week

APRIL 16-22

From April 16-22, we celebrate Volunteer Week. Volunteers play an incredibly important role in the fabric of American society and in our communities, large and small.

The birth of community volunteering is said to have begun in 1736, when Benjamin Franklin started the first volunteer firehouse in Philadelphia. The firehouse was opened after a ship fire burned down the wharf, warehouses and neighboring houses.

The next major wave of organized volunteerism was during the Revolutionary War (1773-1783), when civilians volunteered to raise money and boycott British goods in support of soldiers and independence.

On May 21, 1881, the American Red Cross was founded in Washington D.C. by Clara Barton and colleagues. The Red Cross, (international), has as many as 14 million volunteers worldwide.

Volunteering after a heart attack decreases your chance of complications and leads to more life satisfaction for retirees.

In 1961, President Kennedy signed the executive order establishing the Peace Corps. Today, Peace Corps volunteers serve in more than 60 countries worldwide including Senegal, Cambodia, Jamaica, Mexico and Ukraine.

In the 1800s, many religious charitable organizations were founded including the YMCA, which was founded in 1851. The YMCA’s mission included putting Christian principles into practice through youth activities as well as promoting humanitarian work.

According to Forbes’ 2022 list of America’s Top 100 Charities, Feeding America is ranked #1. United Way Worldwide, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Salvation Army and Direct Relief round out the top 5.

More than 6 out of 10 adults over the age of 55 engage in some volunteer activity.