Volunteering
Volunteering is freely giving time and labor for community service.
Volunteering is the optional and freely chosen act of an individual or group giving their time and labor, often for community service. Many volunteers have specialized training in fields such as medicine, education, or emergency rescue, while others provide services as needed, such as in response to natural disasters. The term has evolved from its military origins in the 17th century to encompass a wide range of charitable and community activities. The word "volunteer" first appeared around 1600, referring to someone who offered for military service, derived from Middle French, and the verb form was recorded by 1755. Non-military usage emerged in the 1630s, though the modern sense of volunteering for community service developed later. In the 19th century, the Great Awakening in America raised awareness of social disadvantage and fueled the movement against slavery. The first YMCA in the United States was founded in 1851, followed by the first YWCA in 1858. During the American Civil War, women volunteered to sew supplies for soldiers, and Clara Barton, known as the "Angel of the Battlefield," led volunteers aiding servicemen. She later founded the American Red Cross in 1881, mobilizing volunteers for disaster relief, including the Johnstown Flood of 1889. The Salvation Army, one of the oldest and largest organizations serving the disadvantaged, has run volunteering programs since its inception. Early 20th-century organizations like Rotary International, Kiwanis International, the Association of Junior Leagues International, and Lions Clubs International were founded. The Great Depression saw one of the first large-scale coordinated volunteer efforts in the US. During World War II, thousands of volunteer offices managed volunteers who collected supplies, entertained soldiers, and cared for the injured. After the war, focus shifted to helping the poor and volunteering overseas, culminating in the Peace Corps in 1960. President Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1964 War on Poverty expanded volunteer opportunities, and the process of finding volunteer work became more formalized, with new centers and online platforms like JustServe and AmeriCorps. In 2012, the Corporation for National and Community Service reported that about 64.5 million Americans gave 7.9 billion hours of service, valued at $175 billion, averaging roughly three hours per week. Many schools offer service-lear
- first recorded non-military use
- 1630s
- percentage of US adult population volunt
- 26.5%
- total US volunteer hours (2012)
- 7.9 billion
- average hourly value of skills-based vol
- $220
Lore & Background
Volunteering is an optional and freely chosen act where individuals or groups give their time and labor, often for community service. Many volunteers possess specialized training in fields such as medicine, education, or emergency rescue, while others provide general services as needed, particularly in response to natural disasters. The term "volunteer" first appeared in the 1600s, referring to one who offers for military service, with the verb form recorded in 1755. In the 19th century, the Great Awakening in America raised awareness of the disadvantaged and spurred the movement against slavery. During the American Civil War, women volunteered to sew supplies for soldiers, and Clara Barton, known as the "Angel of the Battlefield," led a team of volunteers providing aid to servicemen. Barton later founded the American Red Cross in 1881, mobilizing volunteers for disaster relief, including the Johnstown Flood of 1889. The early 20th century saw the founding of organizations like Rotary International, Kiwanis, and Lions Clubs. The Great Depression prompted one of the first large-scale coordinated volunteer efforts in the US, and during World War II, thousands of volunteer offices managed volunteers supporting military and home front needs. After the war, focus shifted to helping the poor and volunteering overseas, leading to the creation of the Peace Corps in 1960. By the 1960s, volunteer opportunities expanded further, and finding volunteer work became more formalized, with centers and online platforms like JustServe and AmeriCorps emerging.
Reader's Guide
Volunteering has evolved from military service to a broad social force, with formal organizations emerging in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Salvation Army, Rotary International, Kiwanis International, and Lions Clubs International were among the early charitable and service organizations. The Great Depression saw large-scale coordinated volunteering in the US, and World War II involved thousands of volunteer offices supporting military and home front needs. Volunteering now includes service learning, skills-based volunteering, virtual volunteering, micro-volunteering, environmental volunteering, and emergency response, with increasing importance as disasters grow in frequency and intensity.
Did You Know?
- The word 'volunteer' originally referred to someone who offered for military service, from Middle French 'voluntaire'.
- Skills-based volunteering is valued at an average of $220 per hour, compared to $18–20 for traditional volunteering.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Volunteering in the labor & employment canon?
Volunteering is the act of an individual or group freely offering their time and labor toward community benefit, without being compelled or paid. It sits outside the traditional wage-employment framework and is defined by the donor's own choice to contribute.
How widespread is Volunteering in the United States?
Roughly 26.5 percent of the U.S. adult population participates in some form of volunteer work. In 2012 alone, Americans logged an estimated 7.9 billion hours of such service.
What kinds of roles does Volunteering cover?
The concept spans everything from highly trained contributions in medicine, education, and emergency rescue to more general community tasks. It also includes surge efforts such as responding to natural disasters, where volunteers fill whatever gaps are needed.
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