60 Ways to Thank Volunteers

Volunteers are important. Without their faithful help, your ministry couldn’t happen. Here are oodles of quick ideas that will help you celebrate and say thanks to your volunteers.

60 Ways to Thank Volunteers

Gifts

1. Give a gift certificate from a local restaurant.
2. Give two movie tickets.
3. Fill a coffee mug with a bag of ground flavored coffee.
4. Give a small plant.
5. Give a prayer journal with a personalized note written in the inside jacket.
6. For a volunteer who coordinates a big event or program, send a bouquet of roses to that volunteer at church.
7. Give the gift of a back massage from a professional massage therapist.
8. Give a coupon for a treat at a trendy coffee shop.
9. Gift a journal for a volunteer to keep track of the paths of God in their ministry.
10. Give a seed packet with a note that says, “Wow! You’re planting God’s Word in young children’s hearts!”
11. Purchase a certificate for 18 holes of golf to a golfer with this note: “You’re a hole-in-one for our children’s ministry!”
12. Give a book of stamps with this note: “You’re a special delivery from God!”
13. Give a new fishing lure to someone who loves fishing with this note: “Our children’s ministry is hooked on you!”

Handmade

14. Have children use a permanent marker to sign a thank-you T-shirt.
15. Personalize a tote bag.
16. Have Psalm 71:18 printed in calligraphy and framed for a volunteer: “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.”
17. Give plastic visors with “Top Volunteer” painted on them.
18. Send an encouraging note with a Scripture verse.
19. Send a thank-you card with a personalized note.
20. Write a personalized letter from Jesus to the volunteer.
21. Frame a favorite photo for a volunteer.
22. Clip and send a funny cartoon or joke that a volunteer will appreciate.

Service

23. Clean a teacher’s classroom.
24. Share a valuable children’s ministry resource. Here are some ideas!
25. Offer to help a volunteer move—better yet, plan a moving party for a team member.
26. Provide child care for volunteer training times.
27. Volunteer to babysit while a couple goes out for a date.
28. Wash a volunteer’s car—and clean the inside.
29. Take kids over to weed a volunteer’s garden.
30. Offer to do one task for a volunteer that’ll reduce his or her stress, such as running errands.
31. Mow a volunteer’s yard—or in the fall you can rake leaves.

Recognition

32. Create a bulletin board that features volunteers serving children.
33. Give your volunteers children’s ministry “business” cards.
34. Call a different team member each day just to see how the person is doing.
35. Ask for reports on past prayer requests.
36. Establish convenient parking places for “volunteers only.”
37. Create a comfortable coffee area for volunteers only. Provide fresh pastries and fruit.
38. Greet each volunteer by name.
39. Mention a person’s contribution in your church bulletin or newsletter.
40. Plaster a thank-you note on a marquee.
41. Use chalk to write volunteer affirmations on the sidewalk leading to your church so everyone can celebrate the good things your volunteers do.
42. Hold a thank-you card shower for a special volunteer.
43. Rent a horse-drawn carriage to parade your volunteers around your church.
44. Personalize greetings with statements such as “Hey, friend!”
45. Believe in people. Say “I know you can do it!”
46. Hug a volunteer.

Experiences

47. Give a relaxing bath experience with a gift of bubble bath or scented floating candles.
48. Go to lunch with a volunteer—a different person each week.
49. Invite a volunteer over for dinner.
50. Take your volunteer on a retreat.
51. Plan a team fun day where the church picks up the tab.
52. “Kidnap” a volunteer for breakfast.

Sweet Treats

53. Give a cookie cutter with a note that says, “Thank you for molding kids’ lives.”
54. Give a Mounds candy bar with this note: “You’re making a mound of difference!”
55. Attach Whoppers candies to this note: “Thanks for your whopper ideas!”
56. Give a Bar None candy bar with this note: “Bar none, you’re the best!”
57. Give Life Savers candies with this note: “You’re a real lifesaver.”
58. Find out a volunteers favorite dessert and bring it for after Sunday school.
59. Give a bag of peanuts with this note: “We’re nuts about you! Thanks for bringing your kids out of their shell.”
60. Give a container of wild berries that you picked yourself. Attach this note: “You’re berry special!”

Want more volunteer management ideas? Check out these articles!