Millions of people in the U.S. take an hour lunch break each work day. Some say there's a better way to spend your dinner hour... volunteer! For an hour once a week, you could take a dog for a walk, read to a child, or stuff envelopes for a non-profit organization.

The most recent numbers from The National Center for Charitable Statistics show nearly 1.5 million non-profit organizations in the U.S. and that number keeps going up. In 2006 there were more than 28,000 non-profit organization in Iowa. In Minnesota there were around 32,000. That's up about a few thousand in each state from just a decade ago.

What's not rising is the number of volunteers. In the U.S. there are a little more than 90 million volunteers. It sounds like a lot, but that's fewer than 30% of U.S. Adults. Those volunteers you mentioned are worth about $225 billion, that is if they got paid. The volunteers of Youth For Christ's Campus Life are worth a good portion of that.

That's because they work with kids during some of their most difficult years: middle school. The international program provides positive Christian role models for students. But like so many non-profit organizations, it's hard to find those role models when volunteers are vanishing.

Before dozens of area middle schoolers are wrangled in, every Tuesday night Nick Kmock holds a meeting. He lays out the game plan to his group of steadfast volunteers. Without a dozen of these volunteers kids like Emily Hackman, 14, would be missing out.

"I think people may not come as much because they may not get attention directly to them and then they may not come back because they don't feel special or they don't feel like they belong," she said.

The volunteers at Youth for Christ's middle school's Campus Life group in Mason City make kids feel like they belong and that's what it's all about. "It's a process we go through with kids. It's coming along side of them and putting adults who care to walk with them on this whole journey of the teenage years," said Nick Kmoch, YFC's Middle School Coordinator.

"Today is all about gross and disgusting things, which I think is cool," Haley exclaimed about the night's activities. "I love the alka-seltzer challenge!" To a lot of people a alka-seltzer, sardine, pre-chewed food treat is appalling, but to middle schoolers it's awesome!

Connecting on their level is what these volunteers focus on. "It's never a problem when you have too many adults around kids because kids are just looking for someone to like them and notice them. And that's so huge in any young person's life," said Nick. But he admits there is a problem finding those adults. "We're trying to reach every single student one at a time and it takes everyone to do it."

"Oh yes, we could always use more volunteers at Youth For Christ," Deb said thoughtfully. YFC's campus life programs aren't all that suffers. "It's really hard to pinpoint one area that needs a ton of volunteers," said Brandi Evers of United Way of North Central Iowa. Brandi adds that's because there never seems to be a surplus of volunteers, but for non-profit organizations like Youth For Christ there's always a need. "They don't make a lot of money and they rely on volunteers to get the work and it's important to make our little world better."

Deb doesn't know why the lack of volunteers but she definitely sees the need. "There's need everywhere. There are all sorts of organizations out there that people volunteer for or then wouldn't be able to work," she said.

"It's always crazy in here but when we don't have the volunteers kids just kinds get left off to the side. The one huge over arching thing for middle schoolers is 'Are you going to notice me?' And when we don't have enough adults here there are kids that go unnoticed," said Nick of the kid to adult ratio. Deb and the other YFC volunteers are on a mission to make sure that doesn't happen.

"I like to pick out the quietest one. The one that sits off by themselves, ask them if they want to play foosh ball and ask their name and pretty soon they come up to me and you have a relationship and they trust you and you have a good time," said Deb.

If it weren't for volunteers like Deb, kids like Haley wouldn't get that one-on-one time that's so important to them. But the kids are the only ones losing out. "I don't feel like it's hard at all because I enjoy it," said Deb who's found something she's passionate about and is reaping the benefits. "It's very, very rewarding. I also get back through the kids cause throughout the year you get to know them."

Believe it or not, Deb says working with these kids improves her attitude and even gives her more energy. "Well, there's been times when I've been tired and I didn't want to go, but I'll go anyway and I would have such a good time with the kids that it was all well worth it."

But when it's all said and done it's about the kids and inspiring the future generation. "We need to tell the people coming up from under us that, 'hey, we care about you and you matter.' And the very best way to do that is give our time give our efforts and if I could do anything it would be to get one caring adult into the life of one needy kid. To be a part of that... It's life changing," said Nick.

"When they come it means they come for me and for the other kids here an it just means a lot to know that people care about middle schoolers," said Emily.

Deb and the other YFC volunteers are so happy working with the kids because without even knowing it they've followed the top tips. They found an organization they believe in and are doing something they're passionate about. If you want to find something you're passionate about go to the United Way of North Central Iowa's website and check out volunteer solutions. The program will help you match your talents and time to an area organization that needs your help.