Thanksgiving is just around the corner. It's a time to slow down and reflect on our blessings. As a children's ministry leader, one of the biggest blessings is your volunteers.
Stop and thank about it. Without volunteers, your ministry would fall flat. It's volunteers that make children's ministry happen.
While we should be thanking volunteers year round, Thanksgiving is a key time when you can let them know how much you appreciate them.
Here's 10 ways to show your volunteers you are thankful for them this Thanksgiving.
Write a handwritten note and let them know how thankful you are for them. In the day of technology, a hand-written note is gold.
Invite a few of your volunteers over for your Thanksgiving meal. Having people come to your home for Thanksgiving is a great way to show them how much they mean to you.
Create a Thanksgiving tree. Buy or create a small tree. Have paper leaves that people can use to write a note of Thanksgiving on and then attach to the tree.
Provide a thank you card for all the kids. Have the kids write out, decorate, etc. the cards and give them to their teacher.
Make a thanksgiving video. Grab your phone camera or a digital recorder and film kids telling why they are thankful for the volunteer. Edit it and show it to your volunteers.
Give them a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant. They can use it when they are tired of eating Thanksgiving leftovers.
Say "thank you" in person, face-to-face. Stop by the area they are serving in and personally thank them for serving. Tell them something specific you have noticed that they do well. An example would be welcoming new kids and making them feel comfortable.
Create a thanksgiving basket. Fill it with the volunteer's favorite treats. Deliver to them in person.
Take a picture with them and post it on social media. Brag on them in the photo description.
Give them an opportunity to express their thankfulness. This can be done during your pre-service meeting. Go around and let each volunteer take a minute or less to share what they are thankful for.
Your turn. The floor is yours. How do you express thanksgiving for your volunteers during the Thanksgiving season? Share your thoughts, ideas and insight in the comment section below.
