Iowans reach out to help others

The United Way's Day of Caring is just one of the ways Iowans reach out to help one another/Gazette file photo

By Judy Baldwin
Iowa.com

Iowans have a heritage of neighbor helping neighbor. Nineteenth century barn raisings have been replaced by service to more than 27,700 registered public and private non-profit corporations dedicated to helping the homeless, elderly, at risk-youth, animals, the environment or other causes.

Charitable organizations include Iowa branches of national groups, such as the March of Dimes, the American Cancer Society or the Salvation Army. However, there are other regionally- and locally-focused charities that address more specific local needs. These include The Chrysalis Foundation in Des Moines, which is dedicated to building stronger futures for Iowa girls and women and the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, which supports many Cedar Rapids charities and community non-profit efforts, such as flood relief.

According to a February 2007 report produced for the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service (ICVS), each year Iowans contribute an estimated 99 million hours of volunteer time and labor. That’s more than 33 hours a year for every resident. The National Center for Charitable Statistics reports that the approximately 12,000 public charities in Iowa had $10.5 billion in revenue in 2006.

The ICVS says that Iowa consistently ranks among the top five states in the nation for volunteerism for persons over age 16. Nearly 40% of Iowans roll up their sleeves, dig in and contribute to the greater good.

Learn more on our Volunteering and Iowa Foundations pages.

Links for donors & volunteers

• The Impact of Charitable Nonprofit Organizations on Iowa’s Economy and Quality of Life
• Volunteer Iowa
• Leave a Legacy Iowa
• Flood of 2008

Links for non-profit agencies

• Iowa Non-profit Resource Center
• Add your non-profit to our iGuide

If you’d like to suggest additional links, email them to content@iowa.com.

Your turn: Do you have an example of Iowans helping Iowans? Share your story by commenting on this page.