I am on a volunteer committee in which I am assisting a Volunteer Coordinator for a local program.

Do any of you have any fun but inexpensive ideas for gifts or ways to make Volunteer Appreciation Week (April 18-25) extra special? We have a very limited budget but want for our volunteers to remember the week and truly feel appreciated.

Thank you for any and all ideas!

Last year my DSIL (who works at an elementary school) bought all the bus drivers a small thing each day the last week of school. Like one day it was a 100 grand candy bar with a small card that said "You are worth a MILLION!"

One day she gave them each a bottle of water with one of those individual Chrystal Light..with a small card that said "It is refreshing to see someone care so much for these wonderful kids!"

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Nutella,....
proving some of the best things in life come in a jar.

OH! I FORGOT!!

The last day of school she chose a few kids from each bus to draw pictures of the bus drivers...the were SOOOOO sweet! One of them drew their bus driver with a HUGE smile..the smile was bigger then the face! This lady was a bus driver 22 years ago when I was in school..and she does have a huge smile she uses ALL THE TIME

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Nutella,....
proving some of the best things in life come in a jar.

You can treat them to a school lunch they are usually less than $3.

You can have a little party for them.

You can give them some gifts that the kids make.

The kids can write and present a play thanking them or imitating them.

You can "roast" them but in a nice way (make fun of their gum chewing, imitate them with their pet, etc)

Make them an award or ribbon and have a presentation.

Donate their favorite books to the school library with a little plaque thanking them.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

We have 85 volunteers... non-school organization. It is for volunteers that work for a therapeutic horseback riding school for handicapped children and adults.

Lots of great ideas! Thanks and keep 'em coming if you have anything to add.

You can have a pot luck lunch or dessert party for all the Volunteers. Perhaps have some door prizes.
You could get local businesses/restaurants to donate gift cards

You get each of the volunteers a small plant. You can find small flowering plants for less than a dollar a piece.

IF you can gather all the children together for a group picture (get copies for the amount of volunteers you have) and have them sign a Thank You card for all the volunteers (take the signed original card to a copy center and copy the amount you need and enclose the group picture).

You can make up little gift bags for each volunteer with pocket/travel size lotions, etc.

You can do an ice cream social.

You can do a morning coffee with some donuts.

I have 60 leader that I buy for at our Awards Dinner. I found at Michael's Craft Store felt Heart Picture Frames. I am adding a appreciate note to put in the frame. They were marked down to 50 cents each!!! They also had tin candles and body cream for 50 cents!!!

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Carolyn
At the Jersey Shore

We put water in baskets in the teacher's lounge. That Friday we had a luncheon for them, everyone brought a dish for them, it went over BIG with our teachers when lunches are expensive for them. Everyday we had a dish of candies in the teacher's lounge with little notes. We put signs out that the kids made for each of the teachers lining the walk so that when the teachers walked up that morning they saw their signs and got to take them home that afternoon. We took pictures of the kids and framed them in $ store frames and gave them to the teachers. HTH

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Proud Single Mother to 18 year old Twins Ashley/Davey, 14 year old Shawna, 5 year old Emma, and my Boo Bear, "Angel Hope" (1996-1997) RIP Boo.