America is cherished for many things, not least of which is
the country’s capacity to step up and help each other during historical
times of need. Many organizations find themselves with a surplus of volunteers,
calling in every day with the hopes of spending their time helping a cause.
Even here at the Lincoln Park Community Shelter, I am in awe of how
dedicated our volunteers are, even on holidays. This tradition goes back much
further than the shelter. In fact, America may not even be a free country today
if it were not for the tradition of Volunteerism. Perhaps I should explain…
As the
earliest pioneers came to America, they found themselves without supplies or a
structured governmental support system. Colonists understood that “togetherness”
was crucial to their survival. They formed support systems to help each other
with farming tasks and household necessities. They nursed one another when
people were sick to overcome illnesses that were new to them. This time period
marks the beginning of dedicated volunteer work.
In the 18th
century, Benjamin Franklin (a personal favorite) founded the first volunteer
firehouse, a tradition that still exists today in many small towns. He is also
responsible for our library system, encouraging people to bring finished books
to his home so that he could redistribute and share knowledge. Imagine living
in a world where you couldn’t share e-books through multiple readers! The 1700s
also brought the Revolutionary War, in which people raised funds to support the
war efforts and would boycott any British goods (tea party, anyone?).
By the 19th
century, America experienced a rejuvenation of religious fervor with the Great
Awakening. Churches would have youth outreach programs and they would house the
homeless. Many organizations formed during this time that still exist today,
such as the YMCA, which emerged on a Michigan college campus, the American Red
Cross in 1881, and the United Way. During the Civil War, many women spent time
sewing supplies for soldiers and families in need. War has shown to be an
important time in which people step up to help one another.
By the 20th
century, America was no stranger to volunteering. The country had a great deal
of practice, and just in time, because by the 1930s America was experiencing
the Great Depression. It was during this decade that the first soup kitchen
emerged to feed and shelter people and breadlines were created to help fulfill
basic necessities. People were no longer giving and volunteering based
on religious fervor. Some mainstream organizations that emerged were the
Rotary Club in 1910, the Lions Club and Kiwanis in 1920.
By 1930,
Roosevelt began the first wave of environmentalism (that’s right, long before Al
Gore brought An Inconvenient Truth to theaters). The Conservation Corps began
in the 1930s and has since been planting over 3 million trees a decade!
World War
II had civilians supporting servicemen from home and also encouraged women to
do many of the jobs previously reserved for men. During the 60s, a liberal
movement began against poverty, inequality, and violence. Lyndon B. Johnson
called it the “War on Poverty” in 1967. The Peace Corps was soon after created. Today, more than 2 million people each year are served by volunteers.
Volunteerism is one of America’s largest human service organizations.
Discussion –
Hope that you enjoyed this trip
through the history of volunteerism – please share where you think America will go
from here? How does volunteering shape our country today and what can we expect
for the future?
By: Meghan Freebeck
