Treasure Your Volunteers . . . "Notice"!

Do you treasure your volunteers? Volunteers are a gift from the hand of God . . . it is absolutely completely appropriate for us to appreciate these "gifts". Today I want to focus on some things we might do to "notice" our volunteers so they know - beyond a shadow of a doubt - they are most sincerely appreciated! Consider the following ideas -

• It is very simple, doesn't cost a single penny, but is something we may not do . . . or not do often enough . . . just say thank-you! A sincere thank-you is something which can brighten a volunteer's day . . . and even their entire week! Look for and notice opportunities to tell your volunteers thank-you . . . just be sure you are sincerely thankful when you say thank-you.
• When you say "thank you" take time to also ask how they are doing, show interest in them - individually - rather than just say a "canned", generic thank you.
• Look for and notice opportunities to do something special to brighten a volunteer's day . . . is a volunteer a stay-at-home mom with young children? Consider arranging a time for this mom to go out for coffee - provide a babysitter (be sure they are screened for safety) and give this mom a "break". Is this volunteer a person who works and has a family? Consider sending someone to wash their windows, clean their bathroom, run some laundry so they do not have to do these things on a particularly busy week. If you hear one of your volunteers is ill, show up with a batch of homemade chicken noodle soup and some tea. Little things like these are things you can do which your volunteers will never forget.
• Finally, look at my recipe for Yummy, Frozen, Chocolate, Peanut-butter Pie . . . make this your "volunteer-picker-upper" and surprise volunteers every now and then with a pie . . . their entire family will love you for this one! :^) (Be SURE they do not have any peanut allergies if you try this one!)

These are just a few ideas of ways you might let your volunteers know they are appreciated . . . the key is to "notice". Notice opportunities to say thank-you. Notice opportunities to brighten a volunteer's day. Notice what is happening in your volunteer's lives and how you might let them know how much they mean to you!

What do you do to "notice" your volunteers!