US Agency Says Idaho Ranks 2nd in Nation in Volunteering

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A federal agency says Idaho ranks second in the nation based on the percent of residents who volunteer.

The Corporation for National and Community Service in a report released Tuesday says 36 percent of Idaho residents volunteered in 2014. The agency says that adds up to 51 million hours of service worth an estimated $1.2 billion. The agency also says that 68 percent of  Idahoans participated in what it calls informal volunteering.

That includes such things as helping sick neighbors shop for groceries or watching each other's children. The agency says Utah ranks first in the nation in volunteering.