Across Wisconsin and the country, volunteerism is shifting. Fewer people are giving time, and those who do are giving fewer hours. In a community like New Glarus — where traditions, nonprofits, schools, and fire protection depend heavily on volunteers — that trend carries weight.

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and AmeriCorps, 28.3% of Americans formally volunteered between September 2022 and September 2023. That represents a rebound from pandemic lows. But the average hours served per volunteer have dropped sharply — from 96.5 hours annually in 2017 to just 70 hours in 2023. The median volunteer now gives 24 hours a year, down from 40 just six years earlier.