The spirit of volunteerism is thriving in the heartland, but not so much on the coasts.
Midwesterners are more likely to volunteer their time than are people elsewhere in the United States, according to a government study being released Monday. The highest rates were in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, where more than four in 10 adults volunteered.
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Minneapolis-St. Paul was followed at the top by Salt Lake City; Austin, Texas; Omaha, Neb.; and Seattle.
Las Vegas had the lowest volunteer rate, 14.4 percent. It was joined at the bottom by Miami; New York; Virginia Beach, Va.; and Riverside, Calif.
Nationally, 26.7 percent of adults in 2006 said they had volunteered in the previous year. That compares with 28.8 percent in 2005 and 20.4 percent in 1989.
The study said several demographic and social factors appear to contribute to higher volunteer rates:
—Short commutes to work, which provide more time to volunteer.
—Home ownership, which promotes attachment to the community.
—High education levels, which increase civic involvement.
—High concentrations of nonprofit organizations providing opportunities to volunteer.
(Posted on July 9, 2007)