By Matthew White

Sun Staff Writer

mwhite@evesun.com

CHENANGO COUNTY – Volunteerism amongst charitable organizations in Chenango County mirrored the nationwide decline again in 2013, according to figures obtained from the Corporation for National & Community Service and the U.S. Department of Labor statistics.

The participation of volunteers that have made programming through community organizations such as local Fire Departments, The Chenango United Way and The Place successful in the past has seen a steady decline for the past decade. And now, the alarming rate is beginning to take its toll.

“Lack of volunteerism is a huge issue for community organizations such as the United Way for a number of reasons,” said Elizabeth Monaco, Executive Director of the Chenango United Way.

Monaco indicated that within the past three years, the number of volunteers at the United Way has fallen by nearly 9 percent, which accounted for a 27 person loss.

For an organization with only two paid staffers, those numbers place a palpable stress on the local nonprofit which strives to serve as a safety net for the entire community.