The Responsibility Project^®. Exploring what it means to do the right thing

Is Volunteering a Civic Responsibility?

24 Comments

October 16, 2008 by Kathy McManus

The stumbling blocks that keep us from volunteering and perhaps making a difference in someone’s life are many. 

We’re truly busy, and mentoring a kid, teaching an adult to read, or lifting someone’s spirits at a nursing home takes time. 

We don’t know how to use a hammer. 

We’re not experts. 

It’s not our responsibility. 

Now, after years of quietly gathering speed, there’s a growing movement to elevate public service to national service and in the process, set up incentives and opportunities that make it easier for each person to help another in need. The goal is to make volunteering as fundamental as voting. 

 The concept of relying on all able citizens to give back has even garnered the support of both John McCain and Barack Obama. Each has promised, if elected president, to make national service a priority and to promote it as a unifying force for 21st century America. 

The frustration expressed by many Americans—wanting to volunteer for something, but not knowing where to start—is now beginning to be addressed more widely, from corporations offering paid leave for employee volunteer service, to universities integrating a “service” year into students’ studies. 

Even the federal government is trying to make it easier for Americans to roll up their sleeves and volunteer, with a proposed piece of federal legislation called the Serve America Act. Among other things, the Act proposes to establish five new national volunteer “corps” such as international service, disaster relief, green energy, education, and poverty, then train and link volunteers to the projects that suit them best. 

One of the toughest obstacles to volunteering is finding the time, but it may be as easy as turning off the TV. Experts note that the biggest statistical distinction between volunteers and non-volunteers, is how much television they watch—15 hours a week for volunteers; 23 hours for non-volunteers. That mathematical difference—more than 400 hours a year—could make a world of difference from a volunteer. 

Tell us what you think: Is volunteering a civic responsibility? Should government be involved in public service?

24 Comments

What do you think? Leave a comment

• October 19, 2008 by Joie Ruiz

  I think this is a great idea. Our society is so full of self-centeredness it is ridiculous. Yes we live in a fast paced world, but what about the people who can't keep up? I think this becoming a law is a great idea. Maybe this will remind people that we are human and not some robot enslaved to our own little worlds. Maybe this will bring us back to a world that cares about one another. .

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• October 20, 2008 by Pasquale Bottiglieri

  In my case, I provided volunteer service amounting to 7 years for Fire, EMT I first responder, and auxiliary police support. In addition, my wife and I, with other members of her staff and as a function of the not for profit she works for, went to New Orleans to help out after Katrina. Both of us have gained a great deal of experience and personal satisfaction from volunteer effort and, in addition to providing support for a poverty level youngster over the last 10 years, we are seriously considering the Peace Corps sometime in the future. I have always been a firm believer that the one thing I would do if I ever had the power to do it is to establish a mandatory service for 18 years olds lasting two years and involving a wide array of training and service. Many of the other countries of this world, most nowhere as rich as we are have compulsory national service, although in most cases it involves the military. Without getting into that discussion, let me just say that if the door to volunteer service was much more available to the average person I think many more people would get involved. I think the federal government should get involved only to the extent that it provides whatever assistance might be possible to local districts that initiate and support ongoing volunteer programs that produce real results. One of the areas that I think would profit most from a real volunteer effort are the public schools. Volunteers present on a daily basis could make a real difference in the quality of education simply because the volunteers could absorb all or most of the tasks that conflict with the teaching process. In short, I think volunteering is a civic responsibility and very definitely so. I think it should be fostered and supported by local districts and further supported where possible by all levels of administration and government.

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• October 20, 2008 by Argon

  We forget so often that WE are the government. When we split from England, we assigned ourselves certain goals and responsibilities. This came home for me when my daughter began signing the Preamble to the Constitution as a way to memorize it: We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. This says it all. Our elected officials may abdicate their responsibility to justice, tranquility, welfare and liberty, but we the people must never. Our responsibility is clear: be involved!

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• November 7, 2008 by Deborah R Herr

  I've always had at least one volunteer project in my life and it truly keeps me centered on what's important. However, I feel a stumbling block for people in getting started is that they fear rejection by the volunteer group. And, yes, sadly, some groups are not very welcoming. When I find a group like that, I just move on to the next -- there are plenty of places where anyone can help out. Don't take it personally. To organizations, I would say -- look carefully at how you welcome new volunteers -- do you show how pleased you are to have the additional help or do your existing volunteers see others as a challenge to their position? Make sure you show warmth and acceptance to new people and they will stay with you.

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• November 9, 2008 by Gloria Burton

  There are many people who would donate money to pay more than their taxes to the government to help pay down the deficit. If it was fashionable to give, many people would do it.

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• November 12, 2008 by stacy gregory

  That is a ridiculous question!! OF COURSE THEY SHOULD!! EVERYONE SHOULD ONCE A YEAR AT LEAST!!! Me, personally, I volunteer for Memorial day for the Veterans!! I do all the cooking of the free food for the parade and everyone in it...yes hundreds!! I know it is only once a year but I do it religiously every year!! Look how many people voted, that alone tells you how many things can get done!! Could you imagine the world if everyone did something selfless once a year? There are places called the Chamber of Commerce, they can head you towards any volunteer program in your area, so can your local town hall!! I just went to the computer and typed in "Volunteer" and got lots of leads on volunteer programs all over the place!!! Try it you will see!! There are thousands of ways to volunteer everyday...EVERYWHERE!!! You may think that cooking for a parade is a ridiculous volunteer project but what have you done this year to help anyone? I consider it civic duty to volunteer at least once a year!! Don't you, and if not, Why don't you?!?!?!?

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• March 13, 2009 by Candy

  Volunteering takes time. I have stopped going to jury duty because I kept getting called in every year, while my husband has not even been called once. We all have 4 hours a day to live our lives. That’s it. Most sleep during their 8hrs, work and eat lunch during the next 8hrs, breakfast, dinner, commuting/gas, co-workers, store, pick up kids, shower, within 4hrs and sometime in the day, and so for our last 4hours yard/housework, or school/homework, computer time/TV/movies, or family or friends or... When you only have four good hours to give it's got to benefit the individual too. Like helping to build a set of houses that would then be your neighbors while gaining a house at a reasonable price. That was a great program. Or working in a community garden for a day or two for the benefit of getting that weeks produce for the family. It’s great that so many people on this blog have time to share but I'm always stealing time, even just to read this. It's not like I do not see the importance but will this new movement address the right volunteers for the right job, or like jury duty, just keep calling in the same old suckers.

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• March 26, 2009 by Tony

  I volunteer to help a pet shop and take care of the animals. I enjoy it and think it is wonderful! It is more of a hobby for me in my retirement and very self-rewarding. I feel that, if you are volunteering for anything you do the government should have nothing to say about it. I am also helping the owner to try and survive in times of today's business world.

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• April 3, 2009 by Larry D. Hurt

  I think a volunteer corps is a good idea. I'm retired now, but when I was younger, I went to church on a regular basis and did a lot of volunteer work. It was true, what we were taught: "it's more blessed to give, than receive."

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• April 23, 2009 by Autumn Daley

  Although I don’t think it is everyone’s responsibility to work for the community, but their indirect help is needed. The government is supposed to be a civic service program already, but they should not have all the say. It is because of the government, why people have turned their backs on others and we have stopped doing what we should in and around our communities. The People know that if it is good for us, then the government will come in and mess it all up. Always making laws and demands on the People that make us tired and irritated with ours. I write President Obama many times a month about some of my plans and goals for my communities, but still there have been no responses. I live in Columbus, Ohio and everyday there are thousands of people losing their income and livelihood. I have ideas that will start to get the people involved and turn this area back into a community and prepare them for the future. If you would like to help me and my communities with our many projects, PLEASE contact me--any help is appreciated. WE MUST STAND TOGETHER AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!

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• April 24, 2009 by Daniel Connelly

  Volunteering is exactly that. To freely give of one's self for the good of others of your choosing. Mandatory national service is involuntary servitude for the benefit of those in charge. When you know the difference, you can then make a educated rational choice. Having said that, I am all for involuntary servitude of 18 to 20 year olds. Nothing teaches a healthy contempt for government and those with power like a little bit of slavery.

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