The number of Americans volunteering in this country is staggering. In 1995, 89.4 million of us gave over 20 billion hours of unpaid time. Here in Ventura County volunteerism is on the increase - so say statistics and so say the volunteer coordinators who try to match volunteers with volunteer opportunities. But the list of agencies needing volunteers also increases every day as cutbacks in funding, down-sizing, and lack of qualified staff exacerbate the need for helpers. Some of our most valuable workers are retired people who possess years of management experience, organizational skills, and of critical importance - common sense.
Volunteers bring skills in law, finance, organization, and computers.
Others help to raise funds to support the non-profit organizations that contribute so much to our quality of life. The reasons are as diverse as the volunteers themselves, but invariably include such motives as helping others, occupying spare time, gaining job skills, expressing religion or beliefs, averting loneliness, keeping active, and having new experiences. Our world has changed in the past quarter century. People are living longer and retirement is relegating many to unstructured schedules and unfulfilling lives. But it's not only the retired who are attracted to volunteerism.