Two members of the NC Youth Giving Network
www.ncyouthgiving.org

As financial markets rise and fall like a roller coaster, jobs and housing become harder to obtain and retain, and human need services become overwhelmed with the level of demand placed upon them - one thing remains true:  The brunt of a struggling economy will eventually fall onto the shoulders of today's young people. 

Whether it's through a teen shelter that has to close it's doors and turn out the lights, a health agency that can no longer afford its mobile clinic to reach isolated communities, or even the cancellation of an entire summer's worth of educational programming, the youth of North Carolina are feeling (and reeling) from the direct impact of reduced and eliminated services aimed at their well-being.

If there was ever a time to engage those most directly involved by this lack of resources, it's now. 

More than ever, young people need to see, hear and experience the importance of their involvement as critical players in the recovery and revitalization of our communities. 

One out of every four Americans is under the age of 18, and those 70 million youth comprise our country's largest population group. Of those in their teens, over 13 million volunteer an average of 3 hours per week, totaling over two billion hours of service per year. 

How can communities capitalize on this unprecedented giving of time?

Fact is, these young people will be critical factors in our economic recovery, with many navigating their way through first-time jobs, housing, and health needs...

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The above piece was excerpted from the Philanthropy Journal’s Giving and Community page, sponsored by NCGives.