Volunteers don’t do their work for the attention, but it’s nice to recognize their efforts, contributions, and selflessness nonetheless. A volunteer appreciation event can show unpaid helpers how much they mean to the project and how much everyone appreciates what they’ve done. Look for a venue to hold the event, and make arrangements for table and chair rentals ahead of time, if necessary. Think about custom awards and personalized gifts in San Jose and Santa Clara for your volunteers for a unique touch, and continue reading for your volunteer appreciation event to-do list.
Find a Venue
In order to hold a nice ceremony for your volunteers, you’ll first need to find a venue that’s big enough for everyone. Start by getting a headcount and considering how much space you’ll need for the event. Choose a location that’s easy for everyone to get to. If you meet in the same place every day or every week, you already know that the whole team will fit. On the other hand, a nearby venue can make it feel like more of a special occasion, which might make the experience more meaningful for the volunteers you’re appreciating.
Acquire Materials
Some venues have plenty of room for people but aren’t equipped with seats, tables, and the like. If you’re renting out an empty conference space for the event, plan in advance so you know if you need to bring your own chairs and tables or not. If the venue you had in mind isn’t already prepared, you can always rent these kinds of materials. An appreciation event may backfire if you force your volunteers to stand throughout it, so think about what you might need well before the event is set.
Give Out Awards
It’s nice to be able to give your volunteers a physical token of appreciation. Corporate awards and personalized gifts remind your volunteers of this appreciation every time they look at them. You can engrave each volunteer’s name into a plaque or award, or you can make a line of identical awards for each volunteer to thank them for their contributions.
