From a Distance: Celebrating Volunteers From a Safe Social Distance

 
Photo by Morvanic Lee on Unsplash

Photo by Morvanic Lee on Unsplash

 

This week is National Volunteer Week and people are advised to stay at home. Historically, this week was filled with nonprofits and community-based organizations enticing people to get out and serve. It’s usually a time with a buffet of volunteer opportunities that serve up a variety of activities and tend to the interests of many.

However, at its roots, National Volunteer Week started as a way to recognize and celebrate volunteers and the many ways they contribute to the community. Let’s go back to those roots. Let’s show the world how amazing our volunteers are and how they make this world a better place! Let’s make our volunteers feel loved!! In case you’re a little stumped on what to do or overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of possibilities, here are some examples of fun (and sometimes quirky) ideas.

What can volunteer recognition look like?

  1. Awards

    1. They can be fun or serious

    2. If you have an extra-deserving volunteer, there are national awards that you can nominate them for. Here is a list of some of the national awards that are out there.

  2. Newsletter/social media features

    1. Featured volunteer story

      1. Examples from Volunteer Match, Ignatian Volunteer Corp, and Points of Light

      2. Some guidelines from Get Connected Erie

    2. Pictures of volunteers in action

  3. New responsibilities 

    1. Is there something else they want to learn or are passionate about in your organization?

    2. Have a conversation with them about where they are at and if they’d like to try something new.

  4. Sharing impact

    1. Michelson Found Animals

    2. Timecounts

What can appreciation look like?

  1. Thank you cards

    1. Hand-written notes of thanks to your volunteers go a long way.

    2. Are there people in your programs that benefit and feel gratitude?

    3. Write a thank you note to your volunteer’s family. When they spend time with you, they are away from their family; it’s a kind gesture to acknowledge the sacrifice.

  2. Thorough preparation & organization

    1. Ample planning and organization communicates that you value their time.

    2. You don’t want volunteers to be thinking of what they could have been doing with their time.

    3. Be clear in your expectations and have all the supplies they need.

  3. Staff collaboration video/skit/song/etc

    1. Vero Beach Museum

    2. Austin Humane Society

  4. Self-care activities (e.g. arts/crafts, exercise classes, meditation sessions, spa day, etc)

  5. Small gifts (e.g. organization logo items, GCs, food, etc)

  6. Workshops/training

    1. It can be related to their role in your organization.

    2. People often like to learn something new, regardless of what it is. This is also a great opportunity to share resources with other nonprofits.

Post by: Cheri Kishimoto, Executive Director & Co-Founder, HIHO cheri@hiho.org // Photo by Morvanic Lee on Unsplash

 
Ryan Leong