Formal volunteering is a staple in keeping a community together. In Missoula, Montana, there are a multitude of nonprofit organizations and different opportunities from larger businesses that offer volunteer hours. However, in the past four to five years (post COVID-19), there was a noticeable decrease in the number of volunteers working.
The definition of formal volunteering is unpaid help that is given through supervised organizations like charities or government agencies. It includes set roles, training, and schedules. Some examples include mentoring youth at schools or at the YMCA, delivering meals, or assisting at a museum, all of which must be under organizational oversight.
According to AmeriCorps, the national formal volunteering rate dropped seven percentage points; in 2019 it was at 30% and in 2021, it decreased to 23%. This is one of the largest changes they had recorded since they and the U.S. Census began collecting the data in 2002.
The formal volunteering rate for women dropped eight percentage points, and while the formal volunteering rate for men only dropped five percent, women still volunteered more than men did. People ages 41 to 56 in 2021 (Generation X) had the highest formal volunteering rate out of all the generations at around 27%. Parents with children under the age of 18 formally volunteered at a higher rate, estimated to be 30% more than those without children in their homes (21%).
During the COVID-19 outbreak, there was a noticeable decrease in the amount of volunteers that were out and working for these nonprofit organizations. An estimated 28.3% of Americans who reported themselves as volunteers through an organization in a previous year had decreased to 23.2% in 2021.
During 2023, the national volunteering rate was still 1.7 percentage points below the pre-pandemic levels. However, the 5.1 percentage jump over the two years after the COVID-19 outbreak demonstrated a growth rate of 22.1% of formal volunteering at the national level.
“We currently have 78 volunteers. At our pre-pandemic peak, we had 123,” observed Scott Appel, the Executive Director of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Missoula. “While our case load has decreased since 2020, our volunteer numbers have decreased far more.”
CASA of Missoula recruits, supervises, and trains volunteer advocates who are trying to speak for the best interest of children who have been abused or neglected by the judicial system. The volunteers interview teachers, therapists, counselors, medical providers, parents, attorneys, and foster placements in regards to the children. Written reports and recommendations are then supplied to the court that are in the best interest of the children.
Appel continues, “We believe the decline in volunteerism was due in part to the pandemic. People’s circles became much smaller and people became much more cautious about exposure to COVID”.
The concern surrounding COVID-19 was not the only thing for organizations to be worried about. The competition for volunteers in Missoula is daunting, and the challenge to receive help from volunteers has decreased significantly.
In Missoula, more than 600 nonprofit organizations request help from volunteers in order to develop new ways to meet growing community needs every day. In the state of Montana, the formal volunteer rate is estimated at 31.1%, which is ranked number nine in the country. However, the number is still considered low.
The most important thing to recognize is the impact that these companies have on the community of Missoula. The Poverello Center in Missoula relies heavily on volunteers due to the food pantry and meal services that completely rely on them.
“Volunteers create meals, serve meals, operate our food pantry, go with our homeless outreach team, and assist with special projects,” says community engagement coordinator Erin Heaton at the Poverello Center.
“As the only emergency shelter in town, we have an incredible impact in our community, serving the most low income people. Volunteers save resources and foster a sense of connection and responsibility.”
The Poverello Center is just one example of volunteers making a direct impact in the community. The Clay Studio is a more child-friendly non-profit organization that teaches people of all ages how to create clay sculptures or vases of various shapes and sizes to paint and then take home with them.
However, the impact it has on the community is still larger than what people would assume. The Clay Studio creates a space where people are welcomed to teach their passions, as well as learn something new. Joseph Pesina, the studio manager and technical director of the Clay Studio of Missoula claimed that, “We are a community studio, therefore all the work we do and the volunteers who help us share in adding to the ethos of the studio, and our arts community at large”.
On top of the recent increase of formal volunteering, the rate of informal volunteering has always been high. Informal volunteering is defined as unpaid, volunteer help given directly to friends, neighbors, or other community members without organization or coordination by an organization or third party. Some examples may include providing transportation, helping with chores, and babysitting.
Informal volunteering is more common to see and has been on a steady incline for the past few years. Approximately 51% of the U.S. population ages 16 and older had informally helped their neighbors between the summer of 2020 and 2021. In this same age group, more than 23% claimed they formally volunteered through an organization during the same period.
No matter what kind of volunteering a person does, it still has a significant impact on the community. Whether it includes helping a neighbor, helping at the local food bank, walking a group of dogs, or mentoring a student, the community as a whole benefits.
It’s important to reach out to local organizations or to people nearby and help when available because it will always be appreciated by the members in the community. The number of volunteers decreased dramatically in 2021, but it is now on the incline. These organizations still need volunteers in order to make the impact that they want on the people they are trying to help.
