Even if volunteers may be too modest to sing their own praises, their work in Minnesota should be celebrated.

A recent report by the Corporation for National and Community Service, an independent government agency, placed Minnesota second in the nation in volunteerism rates. Utah was rated No. 1.

That adds up to a lot of hours that people give of themselves. In this state, 1.5 million volunteers — 35 percent of Minnesotans — spent 155.4 million hours helping out, the report said. Not only is that kind of volunteerism good for the people who benefit from that help, but those efforts contribute $3.3 billion worth of service.

The high rate of volunteering is not really a surprise to our local communities. Numerous nonprofits in south-central Minnesota couldn’t do the work they do without volunteers. From stocking the food shelves to stringing up holiday lights at Sibley Park and everything in between, people come forward to get the job done no matter what it is — including taking down those holiday lights in the typically frigid January weather.

It’s safe to say the Midwestern work ethic is behind a lot of those hours logged. People who work long and hard make time to give some of the little extra time they have. And retirees around here usually don’t retire to a total life of leisure. They find other ways to contribute to their community, whether it be wrapping donated gifts, tutoring children at school or hammering nails for Habitat for Humanity.

The other benefit of living in an area that values helping one another is that generosity comes in lots of forms. Businesses donate goods and services for benefits and fundraisers; companies get behind the United Way drive that supports multiple nonprofits; and individuals also open their pocketbooks when they see a need.

When volunteers receive praise for all the good work they do, they often shrug off compliments and give others more credit. And they often describe the two-way street of volunteerism. For every bit they give, they get a bunch back in the form of connection, satisfaction and often newfound understanding of someone else’s plight.

It’s inspiring to see that younger generations are fully involved in doing their part. From Maple River High School students breaking records during their Relay for Life fundraiser every summer to Mankato teens participating in holiday gift drives through their schools and churches, it’s clear to see that this region is doing its part to keep Minnesota’s volunteerism tradition alive.

— Mankato Free Press, Dec. 1