Your volunteers are the most important part of your ministry. Without them, there is no children's ministry. The success of your ministry rises and falls on the strength of your volunteer team.
That being said, did you know that over 60% of volunteers say they have never heard the words "thank you?"
It is crucial to thank your volunteers on a regular basis. Thanksgiving shouldn't be the only time you say "thank you" to them. You should thank them on a consistent basis.
Encouraging your volunteers is a key part to seeing them serve long-term. They want to know that you appreciate what they do and who they are. They want to hear how their serving is making a difference. They want to know that God is using them. They want to know that they matter and their service matters.
Here are 20 ideas for showing your volunteers you are thankful for them.
Give them a $100,000 grand bar and attach a note that says "you are priceless to us."
Send them a personal handwritten note. In the day of text messages, emails, and other forms of communication, a handwritten note is gold.
Keep track of how long they have been serving and recognize them on their serving anniversary.
Send them a text message and tell them how thankful you are for them.
Give them a gift card to a restaurant.
Have a party for them. No agenda. No "business" discussions. Just a party to celebrate them.
Take them out for lunch.
Take them to a conference with you.
Tell them "thank you for serving and making a difference" each week.
Send them a birthday card.
Share stories of impact with them. Show them how God is using them.
Have a volunteer of the month. Make a poster to highlight them and their service.
Have the children write them thank you notes.
Give them a coffee gift certificate and say "thanks a latte" for serving.
Give them donut holes and tell them "you mean a hole lot to the ministry."
Invite them over to your house for dinner.
Give them an Almond Joy with a note that reads, “It’s a JOY serving with you!"
A bag of homemade chocolate chip cookies with a note that says, “Thanks for chipping in to help
the kids discover Jesus’ love!"
Give them a candle or flashlight with a note that reads, “Thanks for being a light to our kids and families!”
Give them a car air freshener with a note that reads, “You’re a scent-sational volunteer!”
Give them a roll of Certs with a note that reads, “I am CERTainly thankful for you!"
Give them some freshly baked blueberry muffins with a note that says, “I am berry thankful for you."
Give them a loaf of freshly baked bread with a note that reads, “Thank you for sharing the Bread of Life with our kids!"
You can also get lots of great ideas for building your volunteer team in my book "The Formula for Building Great Volunteer Teams." It is available at this link.
