Pennsylvania ranks 20th in the nation—its highest ranking among all civic indicators—with 90.4% of families reporting they eat dinner with household members at least a few times a week.

Opportunities for Growth
1. Encouraging families to convene several times a week will increase volunteerism, charitable contributions, and meeting attendance. Across the board, those that eat dinner with their families several times a week are more civically engaged.
• 72.9% of those who dine with their families were more likely to vote in the 2008 election vs. 64.8% of those who did not.
• 80.3% of those who report having dinner with their families registered to vote for the last presidential election at a higher rate vs. 74.6% of those who did not.
• 32.1% of those who eat dinner with their families volunteer vs. 21.6% of those who do not.
• 58.9% of communal diners donate to charity vs. 44.6% of those who do not dine together.
• 24.5% of dining families attend meetings, whereas 14.0% of those who do not eat together attend.

2. The data suggests that perhaps more family dinners may help to increase the low rate at which Pennsylvanians discuss politics with one another. It is possible convening several times a week with one another, will give Pennsylvanians the opportunity to engage in such discussion.