Volunteers: a common sight in the Twin Cities

We're #1!

The Corporation for National and Community Service has just released a report focusing on volunteerism in major American cities, and Minneapolis/St. Paul came in first! 

That's right - we lead the nation when it comes to volunteering.  That's because we're at or near the top of a number of different criteria that influence the rate of volunteerism:

• The study found that home-ownership increases Community Attachment - people who own homes are more likely to have a vested interest in the quality of life in their communities.  Minneapolis/St. Paul has the highest home-ownership rate of all the cities included in the study. 

• Volunteer rates increase as education levels increase.  The report associates higher High School graduation rates with higher volunteerism rates.  Similarly, people with college degrees are more likely to volunteer that those without.  According to a recent Census Bureau study, Minneapolis/St. Paul is America's 6th most educated city (in terms of % of the population who have a college degree of higher).

• The report also found that the capacity of a city's nonprofit organizations expands or limits its volunteer opportunities.   The Twin Cities is nationally renowned as being a hub of nonprofit activity.

In fact, the Twin Cities is the home of America's first Volunteer Center - Hands On Twin Cities!  It was right here in Minneapolis that a group of active citizens identified the need for an organization to match volunteer needs and opportunities with people who wanted to help.  88 years later, we still work with local nonprofit organizations (300 of them!) to help thousands of Twin Cities residents find volunteer opportunities that are right for them each year.

The Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro Area is a great place to live because of citizens who care about the quality of life for everyone.  Hands On Twin Cities is proud to be a part of America's #1 volunteer community.