Today is Global Youth Service Day, and community organizations all over the world will work this weekend to make the world a better place, one service project at a time.
The annual campaign started in 1988 and has become the largest community service event in
the world. It’s celebrated in more than 100 countries.
In Snohomish County, teen volunteers with United Way will weed and plant trees at the Depot Park in Everett. In Seattle, teams will clean up the Washington Park Arboretum.
A map of worldwide projects is posted here. When I was looking at projects in other countries, I noticed a lone map marker in Kazakhstan, the country where I grew up. Imagine my surprise when I realized the project is at my school, Gymnasium No. 105 in Almaty!
But let’s come back to this continent. Washingtonians have much to be proud of when it comes to volunteering: The state ranks 10th on the number of volunteers. More than 34 percent of people here volunteer each year, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service. It’s the agency behind AmeriCorps and Senior Corps. Rankings are based on a three-year average.
Who beat us to it, you ask? Utah, Iowa and Minnesota are the top three states. New York ranks last. You can find more statistics like this at www.volunteeringinamerica.gov.
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