Iowa volunteerism remains strong as demand ever increases

Although organizations are relying more than ever on free labor, Iowa has managed to continue growing a strong force of volunteers who don't just serve once - they keep coming back.

Iowa ranks No. 1 in the nation in volunteer retention and No. 2 in overall volunteer rate, according to Volunteering in America, an organization that collects and analyzes data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Nearly 38 percent of Iowans volunteer, according to the rankings, said Adam Lounsbury, executive director of Volunteer Iowa. The number of volunteers has risen from 718,804 in 1989 to 967,509 in 2009.

Lounsbury said the increase is a good thing as the demand for volunteers among non-profit organizations also is on the rise.

The Crisis Center of Johnson County is always looking to recruit and train new volunteers. The Free Lunch Program of Iowa City has room for more servers. The Cedar Rapids Public Library is growing its volunteer force for when the new location opens downtown in 2013.

“Dollars are being stretched to maintain a level of service, which is why it's good to be in a place like Iowa,” he said. “Iowa, in general, is always willing to help, if there is a need.”

A study of organizations that used 10 or more volunteers found their budgets to be 50 percent smaller than those that didn't, said Lounsbury

“It makes a huge difference,” he said. “There are a lot of ways you can use volunteers to stretch out the mission and be more cost-efficient.”

Keeping volunteers satisfied

With volunteers playing an increasingly crucial role in organizations' success, Lounsbury said, his group is focusing on educating non-profit leaders about how to attract and best use volunteers to keep them effective, happy and coming back.

The No. 1 reason volunteers give for not returning to a volunteer experience is feeling underutilized, Lounsbury said.

“So we are trying to make sure non-profits know how to use volunteers and do it in a meaningful way,” he said. “When you do it well, it can be a really powerful thing.”

The Cedar Rapids library created a new volunteer policy earlier this year that spokeswoman Amber Mussman said aims to make the volunteer program as “professional as possible.”

“We want to make sure when they come to volunteer, they understand it's a job,” Mussman said. “We want to make sure they know the expectations, and so do we, so that everyone comes out happy with the situation.”

Among the expectations in the new policy: “Since the library relies on volunteers to help provide service to our customers, it is essential that a volunteer make a real commitment to the library. The library will invest in its volunteers just as they invest their own time as seriously in the library.”

Volunteer opportunities that will become available with the opening of the new library include self-check ambassadors, who will help customers use the self-checkout system, and green roof guides, who will escort customers to the green roof and help them navigate activities there.

Patti Fields, chairwoman of the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service, said she's not only proud of Iowa's high volunteerism rating, but she also boasts of its diversity in opportunities.

There were the 500 volunteers who pitched in during the RAGBRAI stop in Coralville this summer and the 2,000-plus volunteers who stay on their feet for 24 hours to make the University of Iowa's Dance Marathon a success. Thousands of people statewide give tens of thousands of hours of community service through the 10,000 Hours Show.

Why Iowans volunteer

Fields attributed Iowa's strong volunteer force to a “neighbor helping neighbor” mentality.

“I think it's the spirit of Iowans,” she said. “There is this commitment to being involved in community, to being a part of community.”

That, in part, is why Jude Langhurst, 59, of North Liberty, said she has been volunteering at the Crisis Center of Johnson County for four years.

“Getting to know the people and understanding why they need our services, it paints a picture and is so rewarding when you know you can help someone out a little bit,” Langhurst said. “I wouldn't give up any of the hours I've spent here.”

Langhurst works about eight hours a week stocking shelves and interviewing new clients. On Wednesday, she was sorting tomato sauce and canned vegetables. The Crisis Center has about 300 volunteers, and Langhurst said she believes that in today's economy, they will need more.

“Certainly, the number of people we serve is going up,” she said, “and I know when I have worked and there has been a shortage of volunteers, it makes the job more stressful.”

The Crisis Center recently expanded its services, becoming the ninth organization in the nation to offer an online Crisis Chat that provides emotional support for anyone in need. Users can jump online and connect with a specially trained volunteer who will offer support and resources.

Executive Director Becci Reedus said the Crisis Center is staffing that project with a team of 25 volunteers. She said the center definitely is taking more requests for emergency assistance, utility and rent help, and items from the food pantry.

“It's important for us to stay focused on recruiting volunteers,” Reedus said. “I have one-and-a-half staff devoted to volunteer management, so it's a big area for us.”

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