In addition to the economic value of work done by literacy volunteers, CLO also inquired about the out-of-pocket expenses that volunteers incurred as a result of their involvement in community literacy programs. Forty-six percent of the volunteer respondents reported they did incur out-of-pocket expenses, while 51% said they did not (the remaining 3% were either not sure or did not answer).
These expenses, when not reimbursed through the literacy agencies also represent an economic contribution of volunteers to literacy agencies.
Out-of-Pocket Expenses as Reported by Literacy Volunteers
| Expense | Percent of total(N=204) who incur expense | Percent not reimbursed |
|---|---|---|
| Car/mileage/gas | 38% | 88% |
| Resource materials/supplies | 14% | 83% |
| Office materials | 13% | 85% |
| Meals/food/coffee | 10% | 95% |
| Photocopying/printing | 8% | 88% |
| Parking | 7% | 86% |
| Student supplies | 6% | 58% |
| Phone/long distance | 6% | 92% |
| Bus fare | 6% | 92% |
| Books | 5% | 90% |
| Special activities | 4% | 100% |
| Childcare | 3% | 100% |
| Other | 2% | 100% |
