Surge of new volunteers eases nonprofit groups' load

With the economy struggling to recover and our soldiers still battling in two wars, this Thanksgiving will be the bleakest in years in some ways.

So it's very gratifying to report that one bright ray of relief is piercing the gloom. There's been a remarkable surge in the past year in the number of generous souls volunteering to shelter the homeless, feed the hungry and otherwise assist nonprofit groups that serve the needy in our region.

Thousands of residents of all ages, races and income levels are showing up to help for the first time, usually for a few hours a week, according to leaders of local service organizations thrilled by the trend. The extra bodies are making it a bit easier for nonprofits to absorb the recession's brutal, double impact of falling cash donations and rising want.

"There is an incredible increase in volunteerism," said Madye Henson, president and chief executive of Greater DC Cares, which recruits, trains and places volunteers for 750 nonprofits and schools across the region. It's on track to supply more than 20,000 volunteers this year, smashing last year's record of 12,000. Its surveys show that the majority of newcomers have not volunteered previously.

So Others Might Eat is getting about 10 volunteer applications a day, compared with 10 a week a year ago. A program that recruits senior volunteers at Family Matters of Greater Washington has a waiting list of about 200 seeking to help city agencies, compared with 85 to 100 two years ago.

The new altruists' motivations vary, but nonprofit officials see three dynamics at work.

First, people recognize that the level of need is greater now than at any time in recent memory.

Also, partly because of unemployment, many individuals have more time than money to offer.

Finally, there's been a response to the calls to service by President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, who have emphasized the importance of helping one's community. Many have signed up through the president's volunteerism Web site, http://www.serve.gov. Henson said she's seen "an overflow from some of what happened in the [2008] election."

That said, we should all try to keep partisan politics from tarnishing this phenomenon, which is a plus for everybody and draws support from all sides. Former presidents George W. and George H.W. Bush, Republicans, were both stressing the need for philanthropy when Obama was a little-known Democratic state legislator in Illinois. Remember the elder Bush's "Thousand Points of Light"?

Happily, the president's Web site strikes a bipartisan tone. For instance, last week it referred prominently to Obama's appearance with George H.W. Bush at an Oct. 16 forum at the Points of Light Institute.

The new volunteers are motivated foremost by a desire to assist at a time of social distress.