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We depend on them every day – coaching our minor hockey and soccer teams, providing hot lunch programs at the elementary school, organizing a food drive for the local food bank, or getting up in the middle of the night to fight a flue fire. Volunteers are essential to our society, but every year fewer people volunteer.

April 27 to May 3 is National Volunteer Week, a time to pay tribute to the millions of Canadians who donate their time and energy to causes they believe in. Volunteer Canada's Web site proclaims Canadians have a rich history of volunteering and community involvement, with volunteers on the front lines of all of our community services.

Statistics Canada data indicates 12-million Canadians aged 15 and older volunteer every year, contributing two-billion hours of their time. If government or non-profit organizations had to replace this service with employees, more than one-million full-time jobs would be created. But the problem is there just aren't enough volunteers anymore.

Most Canadians want to volunteer to improve their community, but the demands of today's society don't leave much time to volunteer. Most families juggling two or more jobs struggle just to spend time with their children to make sure they receive proper nutrition and do well in school. There is simply no time left over to volunteer for a good cause. The inevitable result is vulnerable volunteer and not-for-profit groups, both locally and nationally, struggle for their own survival, not providing the community help and service they were created for.

Governments have been slow to recognize the problem, but are taking steps to help encourage more volunteers. In March the province announced their response to the Blueprint for Action, the report of the Premier's Community Non-Profit Task Force. New Brunswick has pledged that non-profit groups who depend on government funding for part of their services will see the province move towards a stable multi-year funding program; work to reduce red tape and supplies costs; and build better communications between government and non-profit groups.

That is a step in the right direction, but the federal and provincial government could certainly do more. Why not provide a tax incentive to volunteers? Currently the Canada Revenue Agency does not allow "in-kind contributions" by individuals to a registered charity as an allowable deduction. It hardly seems fair that one Canadian, who gives $1,000 to a charity, receives a tax benefit for their contribution, but another individual, who donates 100 hours to the same charity, receives nothing. Providing some allowance for unpaid volunteer services at tax time might encourage more Canadians to volunteer for a good cause.

Recently Valley newspapers covered a story on a Southern Victoria High School class that is teaching students to become community leaders. During the one semester participating students had to perform at least 30 hours of volunteer work inside and outside the school. Students helped with mentoring programs at nearby Andover Elementary, assisted out with sports and athletic programs inside the schools, played fiddle for the residents of Victoria Glen Manor, worked at the hospital physiotherapy department, coached Little Rock Curlers, or taught Sunday School. The students said their volunteer efforts left them with a sense of accomplishment, an opportunity to become more responsible and organized and "become a community leader." The New Brunswick school system should encourage and nurture a sense of volunteer spirit in all students.

Take time this week to recognize a local volunteer for their efforts. It might be a minor baseball coach, a Sunday school teacher, or simply someone who drives a senior to their doctors' appointment.

These selfless acts are the foundation of a progressive and caring society.