National Student Volunteer Day – February 20, 2027

History of National Student Volunteer Day

Since antiquity, people have been volunteering their resources in one way or another for the good of their community and, most recently, their country and the world. The word ‘volunteer’ was used for the first time in the military. It originally referred to ‘one who offers himself for military duty in the 1600s. Actual non-military volunteering originated in 12th century Britain when it was closely tied with religion. Over 500 hospitals were run primarily by volunteers in Britain throughout the 12th and 13th centuries. Volunteerism did not take off in the United States until the 19th century, during the Great Awakening. Before that, most people volunteered for military endeavors, such as the Revolutionary War. An exception was the Philadelphia voluntary firehouse founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1736.

In 1851, the Young Men’s Christian Association opened its doors for the first time in the United States. During the American Civil War, many people — primarily women — volunteered their time to support soldiers on the frontline. One of the prominent volunteers of the Civil War was Clara Barton, who founded the American Red Cross in 1881. The 20th century saw a rapid growth in volunteering and volunteer organizations, many of which still exist today. Two of the popular ones include Rotary Club and Lions International.

After World War II, American volunteering efforts shifted from local and national to international. That led to the creation of organizations such as the Peace Corps in 1961, Samaritan’s Purse in 1970, and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000. Today, volunteerism in the United States continues to wax stronger, made possible by the internet’s explosion and the ease of accessing volunteer opportunities through mobile devices.