Volunteer impact felt by community

Iowans have a passion for serving others. Volunteers in Iowa showed their commitment to improving their communities by placing in one of the top three spots for volunteer rankings according to the Volunteering and Civic Life in America report released December 2012.

National Volunteer Week just wound up. This is a time to celebrate volunteers who give the greatest gift of all - the gift of their time and talents.

Leaders in Volunteerism (LIV) is an organization formed to develop, stimulate and promote volunteerism in our community. Our membership represents more than 25 non-profit organizations from the Cedar Rapids area and the thousands of volunteers they support.

LIV is pleased to report that our membership organizations worked with more than 20,539 volunteers during 2012. LIV member volunteers donated more than 851,216.50 hours of their time during this period. The current estimated average value of volunteer time is $22.14 per hour. This means that community volunteers saved organizations more than $18,834,933. What an impact!

Together we celebrate the spirit of volunteerism and the impact that volunteers can make in our community. No one is more cherished in this world than someone who lightens the burden of another.

Elisabeth Kissling

President,

Leaders in Volunteerism

Marion