Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Living Well with the Carrie Connection

If you stopped the average person on the street and asked, "Who do you think does volunteer work?" you would probably hear a lot of stereotypes. Answers might include "mostly women," "people who don't work for pay," "retired people," or the "wealthy." The correct answers may surprise you.

During the past decade the Gallup Poll and other surveying organizations have provided some revealing data about who is volunteering in the United States.

Approximately the same percentage of men as women volunteer (49 percent men to 51 percent women). We may think volunteers are only women, because they tend to apply that label to their community service, but when you consider all the male sports coaches, firefighters and board members, you can easily see that voluntary service to the community is done by both genders.

The majority of people who volunteer also hold some type of paid job  62 percent have part-time work and 49 percent work full-time.

The ages of volunteers provide some surprises, too. More than half, or 52 percent of teenagers aged 14 to 17 are volunteers, but only 38 percent of seniors aged 65 and older volunteer. The largest age category of volunteers is 35 to 49 of which 54 percent volunteer during the busiest time of their lives.

In many ways the statistics show us that there is no clear profile of the American volunteer. He or she can live anywhere and be of any income level, any race or any background. Approximately 52 percent of our population volunteers on a regular basis for a wide variety of causes.

So, where do you volunteer? The list of opportunities is endless. You are needed by churches, schools, festivals, fairs, youth activities and organizations of all types.

During this month of Volunteer Recognition' the Nevada County Library asks that you become a volunteer. There is a great need for readers to help with story hour, educational program helpers, persons to help return books to the shelves, people to share their computer expertise with others and help to maintain the genealogical area.

Mrs. Joyce Gibson, librarian, is looking for volunteers who know the joy of reading and the benefit of a good library for the community.

No matter how much time you can give to any organization the first step is to volunteer today. Not only will you make a difference in your life, but you will also make a dramatic difference in another person's life.