DENVER -- Despite the tough economy, 1.3 million people in Colorado found time to volunteer in 2008, an increase of 127,000 over 2007.

The state's volunteering rate of 33.3 percent is higher than the national rate of 26.4 percent, according to the "Volunteering In America" report written by the government-run Corporation for National and Community Service.

Denver moved up four spots from last year, to ninth among major cities.

"What we've seen in past years when the economy the economy was tight, volunteering numbers went down. What we are seeing this time around is that despite the economy volunteering numbers are remaining very, very strong" said Nicola Goren with Corporation for National and Community Service.

Baby boomers are a large part of the volunteering group in Colorado, with Denver ranking eighth for engaging baby boomers in volunteer activities.

"We are seeing a compassion boom in this country, both nationally and locally, where people are more willing to go out and help their neighbors, fix community problems," said Goren.

The top volunteer activity was fundraising, with collecting and distributing food second, general labor third and tutoring and teaching fourth.