Editorial: We can do better than this

Saturday, June 17, 2006 | 7:42 a.m.

Americans have increased their volunteer work since 9/11, according to a study by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency. The study, based largely on U.S. Census data, found that last year 65.4 million Americans volunteered, compared with 59.5 million in 2002.

Overall, the report contained some inspiring news, but not so much for Nevada. The study found that, when it comes to lending a helping hand, Nevadans ranked last in the nation.

The survey, however, noted that the state rankings should be used with caution, given that the data compiled from three years (2003 to 2005) leave room for error and that differences among some states may not be statistically significant. Despite the caveat, Nevada's numbers are disappointing.

It is easy to see why the state ranked last overall when breaking the numbers down by demographics - Nevada finished last in the amount of volunteering done by its young adults, its Baby Boomers and its seniors. Nevada ranked near the bottom in the number of Nevada college students who volunteer (only Georgia and New York students volunteer less).

There was one bright spot for Nevada. The state tied for sixth in "volunteer intensity," a measure of the amount of time worked by each volunteer.

But that just means that there are a relatively few generous souls in the state who are knocking themselves out doing more than their fair share. They deserve kudos. But surely more of us can join them.

Volunteering is one measure of a strong society. It connects us. Everyone wants to live where neighbors reach out to each other and give their time freely to help a child, a senior or the less fortunate.

The community service corporation is putting out a call for more American ingenuity, civic-mindedness and generosity to create new solutions to old problems plaguing the nation's neighborhoods.

Nevadans should answer.