Participating in Volunteer Appreciation Week
Volunteers are everywhere. They are the parents that help a coach with a team, or an office helper, or the person that wheels a patient into and out of the hospital. These people do not ask for much in return and they are not paid, so what they are doing is done from the goodness of their hearts.
A good day to recognize these people is on Volunteer Recognition Day on April 20. There are so many places that have volunteers assisting them in many different ways; so many different kinds of people are used: parents, retired people, people that are not able to work in the workforce for some reason, grandparents plus many others.
Many times these people work as hard and are as dedicated to their place of work as a paid employee. Recognition of these people once a year is a wonderful way to show the work that they do is important as are the people. Some of these people could easily stay at home, cleaning, working on hobbies, or spend more time with their families, however, they choose to help others out so that people can be served, or so the work-load is lighter for others. Opportunities for volunteering are everywhere: schools, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, offices, churches and hospitals are just a few places. The work that is done in these places is just as varied as the places of service. Perhaps a teacher needs help grading or filing papers, phones need to be answered, or bulletins printed in a church, or perhaps a friendly face to greet anyone who enters a facility.
Each of these people glows when they receive any recognition for the job they do. It does not need to be a big effort, some of the things listed would make them feel wanted and thanked for whatever job they may do. Perhaps giving them a small banquet and perhaps a little keepsake is something that could be done for the volunteers. Some of these banquets can be theme-related, such as an event called, “Taking Our Hats off To Our Volunteers” where hats can be worn by all, the sillier the better.
Take them on a trip or outing, or give them the opportunity to learn something new.
In addition to the special time of appreciation, try to continually give the volunteers gratitude. If a volunteer seems to be having a rough day, pull out a stick it note and write “stick with it” on it. It could just make the volunteer’s day.
Volunteers appreciate little gestures such as a pat on the back or shoulder when an employee is passing them. Another appreciation act is to tell them how great it is to have them helping out. This assures them that their hard work is appreciated by others.
