Las Vegas is a metropolis teeming with busy people: workers, tourists, families, all scurrying to jobs, to school, to the next appointment. The idea that Nevadans are too busy, too focused on their own lives to give back to their communities is a prevalent one, as evidenced by a recent government study.

The Corporation for National and Community Service released the Volunteering in America report, which ranks states by the percentage of people who volunteered between 2005 and 2007. Nevada’s volunteerism rate was 17.7 percent during that period, which places the state dead last when compared to the rest of the country.

Some critics of the report, like Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada Director Robin Kelley, say the study may be flawed due to inadequate tracking of volunteers, and that there may be more community-conscious Nevadans than the report indicates.

“Volunteerism is happening in Southern Nevada everywhere you go,” Kelley said. “We haven’t even had the virtue of being able to promote opportunities. People are finding out these things by word of mouth; they want to volunteer. We need to find a better vehicle to track these hours. We have a belief within the next three years you’ll find Nevada in the middle of that chart.”

The Volunteer Center, which is affiliated with United Way of Southern Nevada, is working to develop a more comprehensive method of tracking volunteers through its website, www.volunteercentersn.org.

The site will allow community members to find events or organizations through which to volunteer, as well as document the number of hours they spend volunteering, either for personal use or to provide a record for employers. These numbers will be collected by the center to report statistics that more accurately reflect volunteer rates in the state.

In its latest incarnation, the Volunteer Center has sought to link volunteers with organizations who need their help. One such non-profit, Three Square Food Bank, is a local food hub that has seen its number of volunteers jump this year, perhaps due to the impending recession. People who would normally just write a check are now taking the time to involve themselves directly in the community, an act that can be cathartic for some.

“With the tough economic times, it feels good to be engaged and be part of the cure to the challenges that are going on in the community,” said Three Square CEO Julie Murray. “A lot of times when people are laid off, coming out and volunteering is a good way to stay involved.”

Three Square collects food donations from individuals and businesses, and then redistributes them to more than 200 non-profit agencies that provide food to people in need. The organization opened in late 2006.

Las Vegas resident and Conrad N. Hilton Foundation board member Eric Hilton conceived Three Square in 2003, when he requested that the Hilton Foundation commission a study on hunger in Las Vegas. The results found that only 43 percent of people in need received a meal every day, and that children and seniors were impacted most by the lack of food. Thus, Three Square was born.

With seed funding of $2 million from the Hilton Foundation and backing from enterprising leaders of the gaming industry, Murray said Three Square has received overwhelming support from the community.

“(Gaming leaders) came to the table both with funding and with volunteerism, and they also gave us their executive chefs and culinary leaders to help put together a program,” Murray said. “Without the initial support of the gaming industry, we wouldn’t be able to create such a viable program. What we have in place is consistent access for people in need of food.”

The Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada is also developing a strong relationship with business leaders and community members. The center organizes large-scale volunteer events to help businesses engage their employees beyond the job site.

“It really is an excellent opportunity for (businesses) to increase employee morale and make their place a place people want to work in,” Kelley said. “People want to experience things with their coworkers beyond the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.”

Kelley is working with corporations to determine how the skills of their employees could be applicable in volunteerism. For instance, financial experts could volunteer to help non-profits in the accounting department, while more creative minds could contribute marketing ideas or community outreach.

Both Three Square and the Volunteer Center work closely with the city, corporate partners and community members. Murray and Kelley agreed that this combination is integral in bringing people together to give back to their neighborhoods.

Whether donating an hour of time or a dollar, people uniting to help Nevadans in need could make all the difference in today’s tough times.

“I know our community has a reputation for low numbers of philanthropy, but we aren’t seeing that,” Murray said. “We’re seeing them come forward in ways that give us great hope. We’re seeing a city with great heart.”

Interested in volunteering? Check out these organizations.

Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada
702-385-2662

This faith-based non-profit group accepts donations of food, clothing and toys, as well as volunteers.

Opportunity Village
www.opportunityvillage.org

There are a variety of different volunteer opportunities at this non-profit, which serves people with intellectual disabilities.

The Rape Crisis Center
www.therapecrisiscenter.org

Become a victim advocate, answer hotline calls and respond to University Medical Center to help victims of sexual assault.

Three Square Food Bank
www.threesquare.org

Donate food items or help in the warehouse by unloading boxes and sorting food items.

Volunteer Center of
Southern Nevada
www.volunteercentersn.org

Find volunteer opportunities through this central organization.

By Caitlin McGarry