23 Ways to Thank Volunteers

23 Ways to Thank Volunteers

What would you do without your volunteer leaders? Awana Clubs during the 2022-2023 year just wouldn’t be the same without them, would it? Let them know how you appreciate them with these 23 tips.

1. Write a thank you note. If you don’t do anything else this year, give each volunteer a heartfelt handwritten note. Sure, you can verbally thank them; but when you take time to actually write a message of thanks, it means so much more. And the more personal you can make your note, the better!

2. Add to your personal note a personal gift. It doesn’t need to be expensive. Your volunteer’s favorite candy bar or a $5 gift card to your church’s coffee shop would work. Add a corny tag like: “We love you a latte!” or “You’ve bean a blessing to our club.”

3. Give gift cards. Speaking of gift cards, your volunteers will appreciate a card to a restaurant near church — especially helpful when they’re short on time and need to grab a quick bite to eat before coming to club. Other considerations are tickets to a local movie theater, museum or entertainment center.

4. Plan an outing. Go one step further and take your team out for an activity in the area. For an inexpensive option, ask them to meet you at a nearby park; you bring the picnic lunch.

5. Write a poem that summarizes your ministry year. Make it funny or serious; consider writing a stanza for each leader.

6. If you have a singing talent or play an instrument, express a song that shows how much you care about your team.

7. Are baking treats or making crafts your specialty? Share a batch of your best. 

8. Give them the kit and caboodle. Purchase insulated lunch bags and create a kit to help your volunteers enjoy their summer. Include sun lotion, an eye mask (for naps), a gift for an online book (include a list of your favorite summer reads or devotionals), a cooling towel, water bottle and mini puzzle. Resilient: Child Discipleship and the Fearless Future of the Church book is always a good read.

9. Take a group picture with a sign that says Awana 2022-2023. Then make copies, frame them and give one to each volunteer.

10. Think local. Talk to shops and restaurants in your area – or maybe some or your kids’ parents own businesses – and see if they can donate anything for your celebration.

11.  Do any of your volunteers work? Offer to write a recommendation on their LinkedIn pages.

12. Give your volunteers something special to wear. Awanabrandedstore.com has a variety of apparel items to choose from. Or take a plain T-shirt and have children write their first name and favorite verse on it.

13. Get your parents involved and ask them to host a pancake breakfast for your volunteers. (Just take care not to ask your parent volunteers to help out!)

14. Pop and prize. Come up with a variety of gift ideas at various price points – enough for each leader to receive one. Consider including one generous gift. Number small strips of paper from 1 to X (X = the number of volunteers you have.) and number the gifts to correspond with the slips of paper. Fill a bunch of balloons with helium and slip a numbered paper into each balloon. On a designated day, walk into to each of your classes with your bunch of balloons and have each volunteer in the class pop a balloon to win a prize. Give them a heartfelt thank you and the gift that corresponds to the slip that falls out.

15. Make awards meaningful and fun. I once received a giant eraser as a thank you for being the person who proofread letters and emails. As long as the gifts are given in kindness, your volunteers will appreciate them.

16. Mention the milestones. Are your leaders celebrating milestone years? Celebrate them with Leadership Service Award Pins.

17. Recognize your volunteers publicly. Does your church have a bulletin board for posting announcements? Make your appreciation public by putting together a display that calls attention to your volunteers.

18. Honor leaders during church. Ask those who worked in Awana to stand up during a church service so the pastor can thank them and the congregation can cheer for them.

19. Have them run the gauntlet. Line the kids up along the hallways, play some fun music (think pro basketball games) and have volunteers walk or run through the halls. Ask the kids to make noise for the volunteers, throw confetti or wave flags.

20. Create a photo gift. Take a class photo and turn it into a pillow or a puzzle. Put a big “Thank you ______ for _____” (You fill in the blanks) on the flip side.

21. … And Action. Use your phone, or find someone who is good with a video camera, to record the kids in your club as they share their favorite club memory or verse. Edit the footage with fun music in the background and send it to your volunteers. It will also be fun to show during an end-of-year celebration.

22. A real page-turner. If you aren’t very good with video editing, ask kids to write a favorite memory or verse, or draw a picture of something they learned during the club year. Gather all their work together and put it into books that you can present to your volunteers.

23. Give them a piece of history. Did you know your volunteers can own a piece of the original 1940s game square? Learn more at awana.org/shop.

As you can see, there are many ways to thank volunteers. The important thing is that you thank them! These are loving, caring adults who have given time, passion, concern and discipleship so that the kids in your club develop a strong Christian foundation to carry them through life. That’s worth celebrating!