Majority of volunteers feel their work made a difference in annual Columbia volunteer survey

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

In the 14th annual City of Columbia Volunteer Satisfaction survey of 92 volunteers, around 98% of participants felt their volunteer activity was meaningful.

During the 2024 fiscal year from Oct. 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2024, the City of Columbia estimated that 8,000 volunteers worked over 32,000 hours of service valued at a little over $1 million.

Volunteering includes picking up trash, tending to the city's adopt-a-spot locations and hosting composting and recycling classes for the community. Last fiscal year, over 10,000 bags of trash were collected.

Some complaints from volunteers include concerns for Columbia's homeless population and litter around the city. Other people voiced complaints about staff organization and issues with logging hours in the system.

Applications for volunteering and the monthly newsletter can be found on the city's website. The next volunteer opportunity will be helping with the ROC 7K Trail Run on March 8.