South Dakota volunteer rates rank in the top 10 nationwide

by Staff Reports, BrandonInfo.com

South Dakotans ranked seventh in the country for overall volunteer rates, according to a newly released federal study.

The annual Volunteering and Civic Life in America study, released last week by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the National Conference on Citizenship, shows that service to others continues to be a priority for South Dakotans and millions of other Americans. Nationwide last year, one in four Americans volunteered through an organization and two-thirds helped their neighbors.

The study ranked South Dakota seventh for the second year in a row for overall volunteer rates, but South Dakota also continues to rank high in the nation for the volunteer rates of Older Adult (4th), Baby Boomers (4th), Veterans (5th), and parent volunteering (9th).

“With Volunteer Centers in the Sioux Empire and Black Hills, we are excited to see this study come out each year,” said Susie Ryks, the Volunteer Services Director for the Helpline Center. “We are encouraged by the study and where South Dakota ranks in comparison to other states.”

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