Thanking volunteers

by Shopify API November 30, 2020

By Gail Marsh

Children’s ministry volunteers are the people you can depend on. They show up. They are well-prepared. They are eager to help the kids in your program grow in their knowledge and faith in Jesus. What’s the best way to thank these wonderful people? Here are a few ideas:

Make a point to see each volunteer before classes or activities begin. Look each volunteer in the eye, smile, and say, “Thanks for serving today.”
Host a breakfast bar before volunteer teachers head off to teach Sunday school.
Occasionally take volunteers out to lunch or for a walk. Get to know them. Pray with and for them.
Offer small tokens of appreciation, like gift cards to their favorite coffee shop or café.
Honor the volunteers’ years of service and do it publicly, if possible.
Host a Thank You, Volunteers program. Let kids decorate each letter in the word “volunteer.” During the program, have each child hold one letter to form the word as they proceed to the stage. Hold back the child with letter “u.” When volunteers notice, send the child holding the “u” to the stage to join the other children. Announce, “It’s just not the same without you! We love our volunteers!”
Be generous in offering time off to your volunteers. Everyone needs some time away to be renewed for further service.
Have children make thank-you cards that detail reasons why they love their volunteers.
Consider honoring a “Volunteer of the Week.” Post a mix of fun and meaningful information about that person in your weekly church bulletin, on your worship screens, your church’s Facebook page, and more.
Before the volunteers arrive, place a small note of encouragement or thanks where they will be sure to see it before children arrive.
Pass along compliments from parents. Volunteers need to know they are valued and are making a difference in the lives of the children they serve.
Offer free babysitting and a restaurant gift card, or find other ways to encourage volunteers to spend quality time with family members. (Remember, a volunteer’s family is also making a sacrifice when the volunteer spends time serving your ministry.)
Send birthday cards or anniversary cards to volunteers.
Send heartfelt thanks via sticky notes, email, text, or even snail mail.
Slip a Bible verse into a volunteer’s church mailbox, along with a word of thanks.
Have t-shirts made that feature a catchy volunteer saying, like “Volunteers Have Heart!” Give these to your volunteers as a genuine thank-you.
Consider making a monthly thank-you effort. Sit down with a calendar and brainstorm different ways you can show your appreciation throughout the year. Let special holidays and seasonal themes guide you. For example, in January, give every volunteer a packet of specialty tea or cocoa. In February, send volunteers a valentine. In March, photograph each volunteer as they work with children. Frame it for the volunteer.

A happy volunteer is a treasured volunteer. Do all you can to let volunteers know you treasure them!