Good, Better, Best

Courtney Wilson

Presentation Tips

How you give the gift is often as appreciated as what you give. Here are simple ways to package gifts that'll add pizazz to whatever it is you're giving.

• Color-Adding colored paper to gifts makes them look more fun. Wrap things in tissue paper with a curly ribbon, or grab your paper shredder and run a few fun colors through it to create cushion for your gifts.

• Creativity-Get creative with your packaging. Take-out containers (try MrTakeOutBags.com), vellum bags, flowerpots, popcorn containers, and metal or sand buckets are inexpensive ways to make things interesting. Decoupage quart-sized paint cans, and your volunteers can use them later as pencil cans. Watch major discount stores for sales at the end of each season, and buy the bright plastic cups that are left over. These make great containers to package gifts in.

Learn origami; better yet, buy a book for youth group members and ask them to help you fold boxes out of interesting papers.

• Theme-Use your theme and think outside of the box. For example, if you have a Summit theme, take simple brown paper bags, dip the bottom of an old hiking boot in tempera paint, and use it to walk all over the bags to make prints!

• Kids' Touch-Let kids color on white paper bags and use them to package your appreciation gifts.

Better Late Than Never

We've all been there-with no time left and tons of gifts to buy. Here are gifts you can buy on the fly that still say "Thank You" in a classy way.

• Flowers-Buy flowers, rim tags, and ribbon. Simply write, "Thank You" on the rim tags and tie them onto the flower stems with ribbon.

• Balloons-Buy a bunch of solid-color balloons (stick with Mylar balloons to avoid allergies), and write, "Thank You" on them with colored, permanent markers. Hand them out to your volunteers on a Sunday morning, and then have your pastor point out that everyone carrying a balloon is a volunteer in children's ministry.

• Pens-Buy an array of really cool pens and markers, and hand them out with a big "Thank you."

• Scripture-Buy small picture frames. Write out Matthew 19:14 on decorative card stock and insert one into each frame.

• Massages-Bring in a masseuse to give short chair massages during a meeting or on a Sunday morning.

• Light-Flashlight key chains are available at most hardware stores. Remind your volunteers that they're the "LIGHT of the world!" with these handy gifts.

• Discounts-Call your volunteers' favorite businesses, such as a teacher supply store or a coffee shop. Ask if they'd consider giving a special discount to your volunteers. Make each volunteer a special punch card listing those discounts. (Many fast food restaurants will give free food coupons if you request them.)

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