Volunteering in Under-Resourced Rural Communities Final Report
© 2004 Points of Light Foundation
The Points of Light Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to engaging more people and resources more effectively in volunteer service to help solve serious social problems. The organization collaborates and partners with community leaders to better recruit, manage, and encourage volunteers to effect real change. Through its programs, initiatives, and hundreds of Volunteer Centers around the country, the Points of Light Foundation supports activities focused on engaging the general public and specific volunteer segments - including workplace, family, youth, seniors, and faith-based communities, among others. Learn more at www.PointsofLight.org.
This research was funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. We thanks them for their support but acknowledge that the findings and conclusions presented in this report are those of the authors alone and, do not necessarily reflect the onions of the Foundation.
Volunteering in Under-Resourced Rural Communities Final Report
Principal Investigators Bandana Shrestha Chris Cihlar, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Colleen Kassouf-Mackey
Evaluation Consultants Laura Littlepage and Gina Zahn Center for Urban Policy and the Environment Indiana University-Purdue University
Contributors Kelly Green, United Way of the Plains - Sumner County Marilyn Holtham, Volunteer Center of Greensboro and Randolph County Molly Keeney, Volunteer Center of Greensboro and Randolph County Robin Lindsey, Volunteer Center of Greensboro and Randolph County Gloria Summers, United Way of the Plains Pam Zeutenhorst, Volunteer Center of the Redwoods
Acknowledgement
We would like to thank The Annie E. Casey Foundation for continued support of our work and the inspiration and leadership in helping to create improved conditions for America’s low-income children and families.
We are greatly appreciative to the following individuals and organizations for their invaluable roles in this study.
For organizing the focus groups: Vickie Corbett, United Way of Adams County for the focus group in Gettysburg, PA Lucila Lagace, Volunteer Texas, for the focus group in Edcouch, TX Mark Farr, Katherine Andrews, and Tracey Degraffinreid, Points of Light Foundation, Faith Initiative for the focus group in Clarksville, IN
For their time and participation in the focus groups and key informant interviews:
Mark Aka Catherine Harrington Anne Rentfro Valerie Aloshire LaWanda Hazard Brice Riley Ed Bender, Cari Holsapple David Rios Tanya Benjamin Irma Johnson Gerry Roll Taylor Blanton Axa Jones Diane Runyan Juanita Borrego Lucila Lagace Tamara Schreiber Audrey Boudreux Chris Lash Deborah Schumaker Amelia Contreras Karl Lusk Missy Shank Carey Craig Kathi Lowe Maria Elena Silva Claudio Cruz Rev. Darryl McGee Kem Short Kathy Erickson Linda McKnight Carrie Small Delia Estrada Sharron Michels Aaron Smith Laura Felton Esmerelda P. Miranda Sheila Supenski Bob Garrison Cheryl Mitchell William Taft MSgt. Umberto Jenny Newcomb Marsha Timpson Gonzales Robin R. Paulus Easter Tyler Suse Greenstone Jorge Perez-Rico Leonel Vela. Jr. Joan Grimmett Rebekha Rasco Caroline Walles Barbara Gumm Cynthia Reimel Pam Zeutenhorst
Many thanks to the individuals and organizations that gave of their time, ideas, and cooperation in Humboldt County, CA, Sumner County, KS, and Randolph County, NC, for the case studies. Special thanks to our Volunteer Center partners for their participation and leadership in the case studies:
United Way of the Plains, Kansas Volunteer Center of Greensboro and Randolph County, North Carolina Volunteer Center of the Redwoods, California
In Their Own Voices
“It is important to engage those we serve, but often we do an adequate job of ministering to the poor, but not with the poor.”
“I used to make $300/month and felt guilty taking the time to volunteer when I knew that I could be using that time to make money, or be with my children.” - Clarksville, IN
“The way information gets around my neighborhood, is like this, “did you hear this…” It’s by word of mouth. If they don't see positive people coming in trying to make a difference, trying to help them, it’s not going to change. It's time for a change.”
“People get tired of other people coming in to help. This new group wants to come in and do whatever, but that’s not what we think needs to done, so why would be help.” - Gettysburg, PA
“Neighbors will drop by to visit, help with tasks around the house, and if needed, bring groceries from town.”
“Native Americans say they don’t have time to volunteer because they are taking wood to the elderly or fish to people who need it.” - Humboldt County, CA
"I think the biggest volunteering need in this community is leadership and organizers. There seems to be many willing to volunteer, but few who are willing to take a leadership role."
“We look at the community as a whole. We find it inappropriate to single out someone based on income.”
“There is less anonymity in rural areas…everyone knows who is doing what, but either excuses it or ignores it, and there is less charitable, organized help.” - Sumner County, KS
“Meal routes may be longer. There is no public transportation system here so if a person does not drive or own a car, they can't volunteer.”
“Being in a small town, everyone knows everyone, and sometimes that helps…the regular community in stepping up.” - Randolph County, NC
“Policy and regulations are barriers – such as school volunteers, parents. We can’t provide them with lunch – children can eat, but we can’t feed volunteer moms who might also be hungry.” - Edcouch, TX
Table of Contents
Executive Summary …………………………………………………………………….... 1
1 Introduction and Background ………………………………………………………. 4 2 Methodology ………………………………………………………………………….. 6 3 Summary of Findings ……………………………………………………………….. 8 I. Literature Review II. Key Informant Interviews III. Focus Groups IV. Case Studies 4 Learnings ……………………………………………………………………………... 30 5. Conclusion …………………………………………………………………….. 40
Appendix …………………………………………………………………………………. 41 I. Literature Review II. Literature Review Bibliography III. Key Informant Interview Questions IV. Key Informant Interview Summary Themes V. Focus Group Questions VI. Focus Group: Clarksville, IN (Appalachian States) VII. Focus Group: Gettysburg, PA (Adam County, PA) VIII. Focus Group: Edcouch, TC (Rio Grande Valley – Cameron and Hidalgo Counties) IX. Case Study Protocol X. Case Study: Rural Community Survey Findings XI. Case Study: Sumner County, KS XII. Case Study: Randolph County, NC XIII. Case Study: Humboldt County, CA
Executive Summary
Volunteering is an important way through which people connect with one another. It is also an important method of providing services and meeting the critical needs of communities that are not met by other means. But how does the concept of “volunteering” translate across socio- economic boundaries? What role does volunteering play in meeting the specific needs of low- income families and transforming distressed communities into family-supportive places? How are low-income people themselves engaged in volunteering in their community? With support from The Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Points of Light Foundation, for a number of years, has been engaged in exploring these questions and sharing the learnings with the field. Points of Light’s seminal publication, A Matter of Survival: Volunteer By, In, and With Low-Income Communities, documents specific learnings from low-income urban communities and provides insight to practitioners and those interested in the well-being of low-income families and children about mobilizing volunteers and developing effective volunteer partnerships with tough communities.
Building on this work, in 2003, the Foundation began a study to explore the nature and practice of volunteering in low-income rural communities. Volunteering in Under-Resourced Rural Communities is a result of that effort. How do the learnings from the urban communities translate to rural areas? Do the unique conditions of rural communities necessitate unique and vastly different strategies for effective volunteer engagement? Led by questions such as these, the overall goals of the study were to: