So just how charitable are Rhode Islanders?
If you believe WalletHub, we're a bunch of Grinches. A recent report by the financial information data cruncher labeled Rhode Island the least charitable state in the nation. Rhode Islanders earned the dubious ranking by finishing near the bottom in several categories, including percentage of income donated and time given.
But a different report out last week tells another side of the story: Volunteering is actually on the rise in the Ocean State, both in number of volunteers and hours. And it is growing in both categories at a higher percentage than the national average.
So how can we be both less giving than everyone else by some measures and more generous with our time than most? The answer lies in the different methodology and time periods used to compile each report.
The WalletHub study reviewed data from between 2006 to 2015 to come up with its rankings. The state was among the worst for volunteer rate, number of volunteer hours per capita and percentage of population claiming to have donated time.
The national report on volunteering was compiled by the Corporation for National and Community Service and compared 2013 and 2014 data for all 50 states. It found older adults fueling the increase in volunteerism in Rhode Island.
Charity, of course, comes in many forms that don't neatly fit into statistical rankings.
While neither report is the definitive word on the subject, each is a reminder this holiday season of how much more most of us can do to help others. •