2008 Economic Impact of Arkansas Volunteers
Value to State Organizations Surveyed organizations reported a total of
604,632 Arkansans donated their time in the
state during 2008. The services provided by
these volunteers were categorized into four
major areas. These areas included Direct
Service, Indirect Service, Advocacy, and
Boards and/or Commissions. The following
chart shows the percentage of volunteers
serving in each area. Direct services has the
highest percentage of volunteers with nearly
56 percent (55.8%). Direct services volunteers
work directly with clients. They serve as
tutors and mentors. These volunteers visit the
elderly and deliver food through programs
such as Meals on Wheels.
Twenty-four percent (24.1%) of volunteer
services rendered were indirect. These
volunteers participated in clean-up projects,
planned fundraising projects, and worked
with Habitat for Humanity on construction
projects. Nine percent (9.0%) served on
boards, commissions and/or advisory
councils without monetary compensation
for their time. Advocacy accounted for
eleven percent (11.1%) of the reported
volunteer service. Advocacy volunteers
spoke at meetings extolling the merits of
volunteerism or lobbied for additional
funding for various services.
