Time or no time, budget or no
budget -- we've got great ways to give heartfelt thanks to your
volunteers this Christmas.
This time of year, everyone is long on holiday spirit but short on
time -- children's ministry leaders. So we've done the hard work
for you by coming up with ideas you can use to say thanks in a
simple and heartfelt way. Start with a good idea, then make it
better, and finally check your time and budget to see if you can
make it the best!
Living Water
Thank your volunteers for bringing the Living Water to kids each
week.
Good: Buy bottled water and use a ribbon to tie
on a tag that says:
" 'Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become
thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be
thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them,
giving them eternal life" ' (John 4:13-14).
Thanks for bringing the Living Water to our kids!"
Better: Buy bottled water and replace the labels
with your own label by printing the verse and message with your
ministry's logo on label paper.
Best: Check with a promotional company such as cscpromo.com or discountmugs.com, and print
stainless water bottles with your ministry logo and message. This
is a gift your volunteers will use for years to come.
Practical Tote
Give your volunteers a tote for the curriculum and handouts you
give them.
Good: Buy plain tote bags from a craft or
discount store, and give them to your volunteers with the next
quarter's materials.
Better: Iron your ministry logo or a theme verse
for the year on the same type of tote bag. You can buy iron-on
transfer paper at office supply and discount stores. Then attach a
fine-tip permanent marker and a note inviting them to have the kids
in the class sign the bag.
Best: Men may not be excited about carrying a
traditional tote bag, so your best option is to buy or order cool
slingback bags (shop.baudville.com) or
daypacks. Include curriculum, highlighters, and cool pens in the
bags to help volunteers prepare their lessons each week.
Coffee Drinkers Delight
Gift cards to coffee shops can get pretty expensive, they don't
build in much interaction between your volunteers, nor do
volunteers leave with something they will keep and remember your
ministry by. Instead, try these fresh ideas.
Good: Bring in a special coffee station for a
morning or for an appreciation event. You can do this yourself by
purchasing fresh coffee at a local coffee shop and providing syrups
and other special drinks (such as teas and smoothies), or have it
catered by a mobile coffee cart company.
Better: Offer the special coffee station, but
preorder special custom coffee mugs your volunteers can keep (try
discountmugs.com).
Best: You already know volunteers do what they do
for the kids, so in addition to your coffee station, have kids
write a special note or verse or draw special pictures and make
them into travel tumblers for your volunteers (learn more at makit.com). These are inexpensive
and your volunteers will treasure them.
