Posted: 08.17.2011

Midwesterners have a reputation for being neighborly. A recent report by the U.S. Census Bureau and others seems to support that.

The report looked at how often people volunteer in their communities. By that standard, Wisconsin was eighth-best in the nation, and Milwaukee ranked No. 1 in the rate of volunteer retention.

The report found that the average Wisconsinite devoted nearly 36 hours per year to volunteer work between 2008 and 2010. About a quarter of those hours were served in Milwaukee. The state's largest city also had the best retention rate. Nearly three out of four volunteers returned to serve in subsequent years.

Milwaukee is part of the Cities of Service Coalition. That's a group of more than 100 mayors nationwide that encourages volunteerism in high-need areas.

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