Volunteer Recognition from A To Z

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Volunteer
Appreciation Guide
(Ideas from A to Z)
- Volunteer gift ideas
- Volunteer
appreciation best
practices
- Free volunteer
appreciation
planning resources
A FREE SignUp.com eBook
Inside this eBook:

A
A Simple Note With a
Small Gift Goes a Long Way – add a small gift to it:
Candle: "No one can hold a candle to you."
Light Bulb Craft Card: "You light the way -- thanks for
your glowing enthusiasm!"
Permanent Marker: “Thanks for your lasting and
permanent contribution!"
Lucky Charms Cereal: "We're very LUCKY to have you!"
Gold Chocolate Coins: "Volunteers are worth their weight in gold"
Chocolate Mints/Peppermint Patties: "Your service is worth a mint to us!"
Ruler/Tape Measure: "It's easy to measure the difference you make -- you're amazing!“
Group's Logo Hat: "Our hats are off to you! Thanks for all you do!"
Shirt: "We know you'd give the shirt off your back... so here's an extra one for the next
time you give your all."
Plant: "We grow luckier every day you're with us.“

B, C
Bars of Chocolate: Flat chocolate bars work best with personalized candy
wrappers. You can make and print one off of your computer, printer, plain paper,
tape and scissors. Use your logo and/or note/quote ( i.e. "thank you for your
contributions”) Cut out the wrappers and use tape to hold it in place. Give them
out as individual recognitions, or at group events. You can also order through
various on-line companies.
Customized Cookbooks: Collect recipes from each volunteer, a
personal story about the recipe, if there is one, and put them together into a
booklet. Hand them out as gifts at the next recognition event!
Contests: Enter your super-star volunteers into local or national volunteer
recognition contests.

D, E
Digital Photos: Designate
someone to take photos of
volunteers “doing good” at
various events and functions
throughout the year. Print a
digital photo of each volunteer
inside a card and write a hand
written personal note. What a
great way to say thanks in a very
personal way!
Employer Thanks: Send a thank you
note to the volunteer’s employer for sharing
such a treasured resource.
Everyone Wins: Ask local merchants join
you in recognizing volunteers by offering a gift
card or special discount on their services or
products. Include restaurants, boutique
clothing stores, greeting card/gift shops, and
gas stations. Design a "Volunteer Appreciation
Card", listing the merchants name on the back.
It’s a "win-win" for the community, and a good
marketing tool for the shop owners.

SignUp.com’s free,
online scheduler makes
it easy to get the
help you need during
your recognition
events. One-click
SignUps and
automated
confirmations and
reminders help
everyone keep their
commitments.
Save Time with SignUp.com!

F, G, H
Food: Nothing says “THANKS!” like some home-cooked
food! Organize a pot-luck luncheon to thank your
volunteers. Invite every on in the group to join in, as well
as members of the community who may have benefited
from the volunteers’ time, to come together and express
their thanks publicly!
Goodie Bags: At your next recognition event, goodie
bags (decorated lunch bags can work, too!) and fill with
treats, teas, and a seed packets. Add a hand-written note,
and hand out to the volunteers.
Holiday Tree: Take photos of each volunteer. Glue
the photos to pieces of 3” x 6” card stock paper, punch
holes at the top for string and hang them around the
office holiday tree. Display the tree at an appreciation
event, or any other visible location.

I, J, K
Inspirational Cards: Rummage through your
arts and crafts table for all types of colorful paper,
stamps, extra ink and fun scissors. Use the scissors to
create a decorative border, stamps for décor and send
a special message ("Keep smiling'" or “We wouldn’t
be able to make it without you") Volunteers love the
personalized touch.
Jazzed Up Placemats: Take random photos of
your volunteers doing their various volunteer work.
Scan/print some of the photos, attach them to legal
paper and laminate to make "placemats". Use the
placemats as a surprise during a recognition event.
Kids Give Thanks: Ask the children to paint
terra-cotta pots. On the rim, with gold paint, write
"Thank you for helping us grow!" Place a packet of
flower seeds and a certificate inside the pots. Have
the children present the pots to those special
volunteers.
Ask local
businesses
to donate
items such
as cards or
terra cotta
pots in
exchange
for free
advertising
and
promotion!

L, M, N, O
Life Savers: Hand out rolls of Lifesavers candy
with a mailing label stuck to it that read "Thanks for
being a lifesaver!”
Multi-purpose Tote Bags: Purchase neutral
colored tote bags or ask for donations from your local
craft store. Have students decorate the bags and add
a “thank you” message.
Night on the Red Carpet: Award your
volunteers with an "Oscar" for their hard work. Make
the award using a votive candle turned upside down
with a pom-pom for the head and googly eyes. Use
pipe cleaners for arms.
Oatmeal Cookies: Just a simple gesture like
providing cookies or other snacks will make
volunteers feel appreciated. A bowl of fruit or other
healthy alternatives are also a good idea.

P, Q, R
Quotes: Give each volunteer a framed quote
relating to volunteerism. They can display it on
their desk or hang it on the wall. Every time they
look at it, they can reflect on the service they
have been providing.
Recharge Zone: Offer facials, manicures,
massages, or golf lessons (on a small putting
green), bring in a big comfy chair for foot baths,
set aside one room for meditation and some
spiritual readings complete with incense to
volunteers. Have lots of fluffy towels, relaxing
music and flowers. Your local nail salon, sporting
goods store, chiropractor, massage therapist or
spa will be thrilled to participate in exchange for
some advertising.
Photo Album: When a long-term volunteer decides to retire, put together a
photo album of projects they’ve worked on and people they’ve worked with. Give
everyone cut-out paper stars to write farewell comments, and place them
throughout the album.

S, T, U
Special Note of Thanks: If your volunteers
track their hours, attach a note of thanks to their
timesheets once in awhile, from the staff or from
those who receive the volunteer’s services.
Thanks You Shouts: Post shouts of
recognition to your volunteers on your social
media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest,
Instagram, etc.) Include photos of your volunteers
in action, graphics that say Thank You, and links to
music videos and love songs about how happy
volunteers make your community feel.
Unique Roots Vase: An inexpensive and
personal gift can come from the local dollar store.
Present a large vase full of water with colorful
rocks at the bottom and a live plant at the top. Use
the bottom of a clear plastic cup to hold the plant
from falling down into the water. Add a note;
“Thank you for helping us establish our roots.”
A little bit of
recognition goes
a long way!

V
Volunteers Make a World of
Difference:
Borrow a few globes for decoration
and create paper banners with the
above message printed on them to
decorate walls.
Find world maps at a local book store
to use as table decorations
Ask volunteers to come to the event
dressed in outfits that represent their
cultural heritage.
Use SignUp.com to organize a potluck
event, emphasizing ethnic foods from
around the world.

W
• Paper Clips:Paper clips have many uses, just like each
volunteer has many talents.
• Rubber Bands: Rubber bands represent the flexibility
that all volunteers need to have. You can adapt to any
different situation. As volunteers, you can also stretch your
own abilities to have new opportunities.
• Band Aids:Band aids help others and are sensitive to
others feelings, just as volunteers have to be keyed-in to the
feelings of those they work with.
• Balloon:This balloon expands and grows as you learn
from others when you volunteer.
• Heart Sticker:This heart represents the ability to reach
out to others. You care about others too.
We Appreciate You! Collect the following items, along with the “instructions”,
in zippered bags, and present to volunteers as goodie bags at your next recognition event.

X, Y
Excellent Bookmarks and Posters: Use
children's drawings to make a bookmark. Laminate it and
include a message on the back. Ask children to create
hand-drawn "Thank You Posters" using poster board,
crayons, markers, paints, etc.
You will be missed! When a volunteers resigns
their position for one reason or another, recognize them
with a care package. Wrap some items in a reusable
plastic container. Tailor the items to the journey the
volunteer will be pursuing. For example, if someone is
moving to a new city, include a small clay pot and forget-
me-not seeds to plant in their new home, a wooden
spoon to help make nutritious meals, a scented candle to
light the way in their new path. The container itself can
be used to carry valuables in from one home to another.
Write small notes on each gift to explain the meaning
behind each one.

Z
Zippy Notes:
Bags of mixed nuts: "We would go 'nuts' without
you!”
Mint: “Each volunteer is worth a mint. You are very
special and really make a difference.”
Lifesavers: Send a note to the volunteers’ family
and/or their boss: “Your loved one/employee
makes a special contribution to our organization.
He/she is a lifesaver!”
Hershey Kiss: “A big thank-you from the many
people whose lives you have touched over the
years.”
A safety pin: “To remind you that you are bright,
sharp and indispensable!”
With a few simple
clicks, SignUp.com
can help you organize
your next volunteer
recognition event –
and it’s free!
Just log on to
www.SignUp.com
to get started!

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Volunteer Recognition from A To Z

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Volunteer Recognition from A To Z