Facilitating a Volunteer Appreciation Reception

Everyone loves a "thank you." 

 

Volunteers are more likely to return the following year if they feel appreciated and can see the "fruits" of their efforts.  One way I do this is by facilitating the Volunteer Appreciation Reception every year.

 

Here are a few key tips to help make your Volunteer Appreciation Reception successful:

1. Provide teachers with a paper copy (bi-lingual if needed) of the invitation that they can send home for any parents or individuals that volunteered in their classroom.  The paper copy should have a place for volunteers to RSVP.  Once returned, teachers should return the RSVP form to your mailbox.
2. If your volunteers are tech-savvy, create electronic invitations and be sure to include a RSVP.
3. Make the kids part of the reception!  Individuals volunteer because they love children.  Our kindergarten students sang and did hand motions to the song, "You've Got a Friend in Me" this year.  Our 1st grade students decorated flowers for the place settings.  Our Student Lighthouse Team greeted volunteers as they arrived.
4. Create name tags so that volunteers can mingle without the awkwardness.
5. Have the principal, a teacher, yourself, or all 3 share a super short heartfelt thank you speech to the volunteers. 

Our Volunteer Appreciation Theme this year was, "Thank You for Helping Us Bloom!"