“Volunteering personal time, group energy, and individual skills at the local grass roots level, is a wonderful phenomenon throughout America,” says Stephanie Rosenstone, Director of Corp Events & Executive Business Partner to the COO of Paul Davis, a leading emergency and disaster restoration company in North America. Surveys conducted annually by the United Health Foundation support Rosenstone’s enthusiasm. This organization conducts annual research of volunteerism and reports rankings by state. Which states rank highest for volunteer activism? Applaud Utah residents who currently top the list of active volunteering at 46.6%. Honors also go to Vermont, Minnesota and Kansas state citizens who rank high as well, with over 40% of their residents participating as active volunteers. On a nationwide basis among the U.S. population age 16 and older, 28% was the countrywide level of volunteer participation in the past 12 months. “That’s a heartwarming number,” says Rosenstone.
“Volunteer efforts to address overlooked and often unmet needs within local communities is a widespread activity throughout our network of disaster restoration franchises and corporate-affiliated businesses. These Paul Davis local volunteer efforts among local franchise management and operations staff, often start small. Then magically, over time, they grow to become amazingly successful.” This was the case several years ago when Paul Davis’ business operations in Washington D.C and nearby suburban Maryland, posed an open-ended question amongst themselves … What more can we do for our community? What has resulted has become a shining example among many Paul Davis offices who actively seek to answer that same question.
For Paul Davis Restoration of DC and Suburban Maryland the answer led to a significant strengthening of their shared “servant heart” mindset as they began actively seeking opportunities to give back. Alongside other local partners in their communities who support worthy organizations grew to make a real difference. During the current year 2026 this local franchise business is supporting ten worthy organizations that deliver essential resources directly to the DC / MD community. These include, but are not limited to:
- Comfort Cases
- Interfaith Works
- Boxes of Basics
- Student Homelessness Initiative
- Partnership of Frederick County
- Sleep in Heavenly Peace
- Manna Food Center
- National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
- Big Tree Memorial
- FundShop with a Cop
Each of these organizations plays a vital role in addressing critical needs: providing clothing and food, supporting families, children, and first responders. By aligning their activities with other local businesses in the DC/Maryland area, Paul Davis Restoration, in partnership with other businesses and community groups, ensures that efforts deliver meaningful results and meet varied, vital community needs. “Paul Davis Restoration business activities focus on disaster response,” says Rosenstone. “Our mitigation and restoration teams are experts in providing 24/7 emergency services for water, fire, mold and storm damage. But aside from all too frequent local emergencies, many individuals and organizations simply need volunteer support by people who care and come together to provide compassion and a willing partnership to improve the community and its residents. This kind of social purpose support has real value and seeing to local community needs is vital to bettering life for all.”
FAQs
How important is volunteer support at the community level?
Volunteer support acts as a glue to hold local networks together while filling critical service gaps that non-profits, healthcare, and food programs require. Volunteers drive local resilience, lower social isolation, and support families during tough economic times.
What benefits can volunteers gain from their volunteer activities?
Volunteerism helps the helpers as well. Through improved physical and mental health, reduced stress, and a deeper sense of purpose. Volunteerism also helps build valuable social connections, teaches new job skills, and boosts overall life satisfaction and self-esteem.
