Global Volunteer Month: Volunteerism Is More Vital Than Ever

April marks Global Volunteer Month, a time to recognize the incredible power of people who choose to give their time, energy, and compassion to causes bigger than themselves. Beyond the appreciation posts and celebration events, this month is also an invitation - a call to rethink how we see volunteers and the role they play in shaping a better world. 

In today’s world, we’re navigating a landscape full of disconnection, polarization, and uncertainty. It's easy to feel overwhelmed or discouraged. But one powerful, often underestimated force continues to bridge divides and build hope: volunteerism. 

Volunteers Are Not Just Filling Gaps. They’re Driving Change. 

Too often, volunteers are viewed as a temporary fix — people stepping in to support nonprofits that are under-resourced or understaffed. While it’s true that nonprofits rely on volunteers to extend their reach, this perspective sells the movement short. According to AmeriCorps, more than 28 percent of Americans (more than 75.7 million people) formally volunteered for an organization between September 2022 and 2023. In total, these volunteers served an estimated 4.99 billion hours with an economic value of $167.2 billion. 

Volunteers aren't just helping organizations survive. They’re helping society evolve. 

They bring fresh ideas, lived experience, and community connection. They show up not for a paycheck, but out of purpose, and that energy drives innovation, resilience, and social progress. Whether they’re mentoring youth, cleaning up local parks, delivering meals, or advocating for justice, volunteers are pushing the needle forward in every sector of civil society. 

We live in an era where technology connects us, but human connection feels harder to find. Where headlines emphasize our differences more than our shared hopes. And yet, in the midst of all this, volunteerism creates space for empathy, unity, and belonging. 

Volunteering brings people together across lines of age, race, religion, income, and ideology. It reminds us that we’re not alone, that others care, that we can make an impact, and that community is still possible. It turns strangers into teammates and despair into action. 

Volunteerism is deeply meaningful in Minnesota because it’s woven into the state’s culture of community, compassion, and collective action. Minnesotans consistently rank among the top in the nation for volunteer rates, showing a strong tradition of stepping up to support neighbors and local causes. With a rich network of nonprofits and a spirit of civic engagement, volunteering in Minnesota isn’t just about giving back — it’s about coming together to build a stronger, more connected community. HandsOn Twin Cities is proud to celebrate our 106th anniversary this year, the oldest surviving volunteer center in the nation, never resting on our laurels, but working with our volunteer community to keep meeting the evolving needs of our community.  

A Month to Reflect and Act 

Global Volunteer Month is not just a time to celebrate, it’s a time to engage! 

Ask yourself: Where can I make a difference? How can I be part of the solution? Volunteering doesn’t have to be grand or time-consuming. It can start with one act of kindness, one hour, one helping hand.  

It has never been easier to find a volunteer opportunity by using the HandsOn Twin Cities’ Opportunity Database where more than 800 nonprofits post a wide range of meaningful opportunities all in one place at www.handsontwincities.org.  

If you’re part of an organization, this is a moment to lift up your volunteers—not just with thanks, but with real recognition. Invite them into leadership roles. Ask for their ideas. Treat them not as stopgaps, but as partners in your mission. 

In a world that’s yearning for healing, hope, and progress, we need to remember: Volunteers aren’t just helping. They’re leading. 

This Global Volunteer Month, let’s not just say “thank you.” Let’s also say, “We see you. We need you. Let’s keep building together.”