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Adopt a resolution and receive a presentation proclaiming the week of April 18 - 24, 2021 as National Volunteer Week in Solano County, recognizing the significant accomplishments of all Solano County volunteers who stepped up to help others in need of assistance, including during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic health emergency and LNU Lightning Complex fire recovery
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Published Notice Required? Yes ___ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ___ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution and receive a presentation proclaiming the week of April 18 - 24, 2021 as National Volunteer Week in Solano County, recognizing the significant accomplishments of all Solano County volunteers who stepped up to help others in need of assistance, including during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic health emergency and LNU Lightning Complex fire recovery
SUMMARY:
April 18 - 24, 2021 is National Volunteer Week. During this time, we celebrate the spirit of service in America and honor those who demonstrate the great character of our country through acts of kindness, generosity and compassion by volunteering to help others. This year, because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic health emergency, the Board of Supervisors will honor and recognize the 791 volunteers who gave unselfishly of their time and expertise in 2020 to support County operations, including youth and family services, master gardeners, 4H leadership, libraries, literacy programs, fire protection, community health, open space, the arts, transportation, resource conservation, religious services, public safety and emergency services - totaling 32,418 hours.
An additional 136 Solano County volunteers participated in the County’s Volunteer Center between April and September, making thousands of phone calls to older adults ages 69 years and older and those living with disabilities in Solano County as part of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic health emergency. Volunteers, including nursing students, community college students and AmeriCorps volunteers checked in with older adults to see if they needed access to food, meals, housing, transportation, medical, in-home support services, financial and/or rental assistance and mental health services due to isolation. Volunteers made a total of 37,496 phone calls - totaling 2,080 hours.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the County Administrator’s FY2020/21 Adopted Budget. The costs associated with preparation and purchase of the resolution materials are included in the County Administrator’s FY2020/21 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
This year marks the 47th anniversary of the first National Volunteer Week, which was established by executive order by President Richard Nixon as an annual celebration of volunteerism and the people who volunteer. Since that time, each U.S. President, along with many governors, mayors and other elected officials, have signed a proclamation promoting National Volunteer Week.
National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to recognize the impact of volunteer service and the power of volunteers to tackle society’s greatest challenges, to build stronger communities and be a force that transforms the world. Each year, we shine a light on the people and causes that inspire us to serve, recognizing and thanking volunteers who lend their time, talent and voice to make a difference in their communities.
Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the volunteer data suggests that parents volunteer at rates nearly 48 percent higher than non-parents, and working mothers give more than any other demographic, with a volunteer rate of 46.7 percent. Generation X has the highest volunteer rate at 36.4 percent, while Baby Boomers give more hours than any other demographic at 2.2 billion hours annually. Veterans are among the most neighborly Americans, spending the most time of any demographic doing charitable work when compared to their civilian counterparts. Americans volunteer most frequently their time to religious groups, followed by sports activities, youth and service groups. Finally, one in three volunteers raises funds for non-profits, including food donation and meal prep, transportation and labor support, tutoring young people and serving as a mentor for professional and management expertise. All this time and volunteer effort combined is worth a staggering $167 billion dollars (in 2018, the latest date the data is available) to the United States economy.
This volunteer spirit benefits Solano County immensely, as volunteers expand the capacity of department’s ability to provide programs and services to the community, whether that is teaching an adult how to read, cleaning up our waterfronts, assisting on search and rescue missions, sprucing up a local landmark, mentoring an incarcerated individual, helping preserve Solano County’s rich history or helping someone through challenging times.
The range of active volunteers varies greatly in Solano County. Some volunteers spend an hour or two here and there, supporting an event or cause to which they are passionate, whereas others donate hundreds of hours a year to a single cause. In 2020, 791 individuals volunteered a combined 32,418 hours of their time to support Solano County programs and services in the community. Their efforts add up to the equivalent of more than 15.5 full-time County employees providing program support and services to the Solano community over the course of the year.
An additional 136 Solano County volunteers participated in the County’s Volunteer Center between April and September, making thousands of phone calls to older adults ages 69 years and older and those living with disabilities in Solano County as part of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic health emergency. Volunteers, including nursing students, community college students and AmeriCorps volunteers checked in with older adults to see if they needed access to food, meals, housing, transportation, medical, in-home support services, financial and/or rental assistance and mental health services due to isolation. Volunteers made a total of 37,496 phone calls - totaling 2,080 hours.
For a complete list of County departments that use volunteers to support their operations and a sampling of the kind of work volunteers perform, benefiting the Solano community, see ATTACHMENT B.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to receive this presentation; however, this is not recommended because it provides an opportunity to pay tribute to the contributions of volunteers who make a difference in the quality of life across the county.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
All County departments, including the Center for Volunteers and Nonprofit Leadership (CVNL) contributed to this report. Departments utilize volunteers to support their programs and services and appreciate the contributions that volunteers make toward ensuring Solano County is a great place to live, learn, work and play.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION