Celebrate Volunteers With Any Budget
If you were to go into your closet, how many kids ministry t-shirts or branded apparel do you own? I’m sure I could fill boxes and boxes with the amount of t-shirts, sweatshirts, vests, and hats that have a church logo on them and don’t even get me started on coffee mugs!
It can be tricky figuring out how to celebrate your volunteers when Christmas and end of year celebrations come around. Now don’t get me wrong, coffee mugs are great and sweatshirts can be really cool, but those may not be an option if you are working with a small budget. Gift cards can be a great choice, sometimes they are not an option either, so you have to get creative!
Here are my favorite gifts or experiences to celebrate volunteers.
Branded clothing This can be a really fun and easy way to celebrate volunteers. When it comes to t-shirts or sweatshirts, try not to skimp on the quality. If you want people to wear them, they need to be comfortable. Don’t forget, if you require kids ministry t-shirts on Sunday morning to show who is a designated volunteer, clarify if these items can be worn as well. Some examples of fun branded clothing are:
Hats/Beanie
Fleece Vest
Sweatshirt
Fanny pack (those are very “in” right now)
Socks
Volunteer Experience This option can be a great way to have fun, build community, and say thank you all in one night and the opportunities are endless. Depending on the amount of volunteers you have, you can rent out a movie theater, mini golf course, arcade, restaurant, or bowling alley. You could also do a fun event at your church like an awards night or catered dinner. Pick a theme, encourage costumes, play games, provide babysitters on site, celebrate the leaders within the leaders—there are so many options! This option can be catered to fit any budget. Maybe you have the budget to bring Chick-fil-A to a park or Olive Garden in your auditorium, either way, it is always loads of fun! It is important to remember that some volunteers won’t be able to make a one-time event so don’t forget to celebrate those who can’t make it!
Homemade gifts One year, I had one of my friends create ornaments for my lead volunteer team. She was just launching her hand-lettering business and so I was able to support her and say thanks to the volunteers serving in such a high capacity. If you are crafty, other great handmade gift options are blankets, treats, Chex-mix, or unique art. I have handed out little bags of homemade Chex mix to all of our volunteer serving on Christmas Eve and it was a HIT!
Gift cards/family experience I couldn’t write about celebrating volunteers without included gift cards. I’ve sent so many Starbucks gift cards (of coffee shop equivalent) in my career and they are such an easy win with lasting impact. For a season, I would make a point to send a gift card or thank you note to one person each week. Whether I was just thinking about them or they were simply being a rockstar volunteer, it was on my to-do list every Monday morning. One of my favorite gifts to give is an experience for an entire family like a gift card to a local trampoline gym, a family friendly restaurant, a baseball game, or theater performance. I love giving the gift of lifelong memories!
We all know that Kids Ministry could not happen without our team of volunteers and that they are definitely worth celebrating! If you can’t throw a huge party or gift branded Yeti coffee mugs, you can still say thank you. Creating a team culture filled with gratitude will make a lasting impact for your ministry. Saying “thank you” every Sunday is a small act that people will remember. How do you say thank you to your volunteers?