Volunteers Provide Substantial Benefits to Charities and Congregations. In 2003, approximately million Americans volunteered in or through an organization, while thousands of charities and congregational social service programs engaged and managed these volunteers. Charities and congregations report that these volunteers are important to their operations, and that volunteers do a good job in providing services. At least six in ten charities indicate that their volunteers provide substantial cost savings and greatly increase the quality of services or programs provided, public support for their programs, and the level of services they can provide. Only six percent of charities and congregational social service outreach programs report that absenteeism, unreliability, or poor work habits are a.
