Articles in The New York Times and the PBS Online Newshour this week highlighted the dramatic increase in the number of Americans participating in national service.

While the economy is down, volunteer and service program applications are up. Way up.

Coalition member Teach For America is one example, cited in the PBS article, of an organization whose number of applications has swelled tremendously. Record numbers of recent graduates are looking for jobs in the nonprofit and public sectors. Amy Rabinowitz of Teach For America argues that this renewed interest in service can not be attributed to the recession alone.

While the economy played a role in reducing competition for top applicants, we believe this year’s increase can also be attributed a growing interest among young people to engage in public service.

Recent graduates are not the only ones answering President Obama’s call to service.

Many who run nonprofits have marveled at the sudden flood of bankers, advertising copywriters, marketing managers, accountants and other professionals eager to lend their formidable but dormant skills. The Financial Clinic, which counsels the working poor on economic matters, recently dispatched an M.I.T.-educated ex-Wall Street type to help people in Chinatown prepare their tax returns.

Individuals from all walks of life are responding to the challenges facing our country, coming forward to help in any way they can. Service and social innovation are twin engines for change, and we are excited to see so many people working together to find creative solutions to some of our nation’s most difficult problems.

You can read the entire New York Times article here, and the entire PBS article here.