"This country has relied on volunteers from its start: Colonists banded together to survive the harsh New World, forming support groups to help each other plant crops, build houses and fight disease. Benjamin Franklin developed the first volunteer firehouse in 1736, an idea that has become the country's norm, as more than 70 percent of all firefighters today are volunteers." ~ Stephanie Rosenburg posted on April 18, 2013 in Inspiration

In reviewing the numbers and the causes, it is evident that volunteering has basically become a national pastime. In 2011 volunteering reached its highest level since 2006 as Americans volunteered nearly 8 billion hours to local and national causes. Today nearly one in four Americans, an estimated 64.3 million people, are either volunteering or have volunteered in the past.

It's safe to say volunteering is as much a part of America's present and its past. When we look at how Americans volunteer and why, it's evident that while the "how" has changed throughout history the desire to serve will always be part of the nation's legacy.

What do you think about the role volunteering has played in U.S. history? Please email your response to Robinp@plano.gov and we will share them in the next newsletter.

Have a wonderful summer,

Robin Popik