Americans Are Volunteering Less Than Ever
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a popular day for volunteering. But service work overall has hit a record low.
Cheryl and Rene Justin volunteered to clean up MacArthur Park during MLK Day of Service in Long Beach on Jan. 16, 2023.
Photographer: Brittany Murray/MediaNews Group/Long Beach Press-Telegram via Getty Images
Every year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Americans are encouraged to volunteer to honor the legacy of the late civil rights leader. The federal holiday was officially dedicated to volunteerism in 1994 under the King Holiday and Service Act in a bid to motivate the public to do good in their communities.
While the holiday is a popular time for civic service, the volunteering rate across the US is at record lows, following a steady decline since at least the 2010’s.