Mrs Mungo Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 I was thinking of having magnets printed with a cute design, a quote about volunteering and "thank you from X" (x=our unit name) across the top. Do you think this is a good idea? What other relatively inexpensive ideas (shooting for less than $2 each, there are a lot of volunteers) do you have? What volunteer appreciation gifts have you liked? I've been given lots of things like plastic grapes with a "thanks a bunch," note attached, but I'd rather give something that is actually somewhat functional, kwim? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 Food might be a good idea. Oreos cookies Goldfish crackers Chocolate! Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 A really good chocolate bar. I like gift cards too, but I think you would have to go higher than $2 even just for Starbucks or an ice cream/frozen yogurt place. I like consumable things--no knick-knacks or dust collectors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieamy Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 I second (third?) the candy or snack suggestion. No knick-knacks, please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted June 8, 2011 Author Share Posted June 8, 2011 Food is a good idea. I could put some sort of saying on food items. We are probably talking around 100 volunteers and this is out of pocket, so things like gift cards would have to be reserved for those really outstanding volunteers. :) eta: I wouldn't do knick knacks, but I have magnets and other stuff from volunteer appreciation things that I've had for years. For example, I have one of these that says "volunteers are a work of heart." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lara in Colo Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 Have you thought about the advertising/promotional gift places? like this ? http://www.garrettspecialties.com/ I didn't look very closely, just wanted to give you a direction to think about. Lara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntieM Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 I've often gotten those giant candy bars, a little over a dollar each. It's easy to incorporate the candy into the attached verbal thank you (you're so sweet, you're a big help, you get the drift). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 Pens that say "Thank you from ?" or something inspirational? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 I have a book of these. Here's a few. You can substitute various words...volunteers, helpers, leaders, you, etc... Nestle Crunch bars..."We would be in a CRUNCH without you!" Starburst candy..."You are a STAR volunteer!" Reese's Peanut Butter Cups..."Our CUP runneth over with great volunteers like you!" Payday candy bar..."What a PAYDAY you'll have in heaven for all your great work on earth!" Whoppers..."You are a WHOPPING good part of our team!" Twix candy bars..."TWIX me and you, our volunteers are fantastic!" Animal cookies..."This place would be a ZOO without our terrific volunteers!" Chips Ahoy cookies..."AHOY there, volunteer! We are thankful for you!" vanilla wafer cookies..."Just a WA-FER us to thank you!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted June 8, 2011 Author Share Posted June 8, 2011 Great ideas, everyone! Thank you!! If anyone else has ideas, keep them coming! I will tag this thread for future reference. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 (edited) Here are 3 ideas. For the "measure up" one, you could do measuring tape instead. More ideas found online: Wooden backscratcher...."Thanks for the helping hand" Nice keychain...make the note in the shape of a key..."You are the key to our success" Edited June 8, 2011 by gardening momma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G5052 Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 A magnet would be OK. Several times I've gotten a nicer imprinted pen which is both useful and memorable for a time, and another time they gave out imprinted stadium cups (also useful even if they end up out in the garden). Some time back I purged the coffee cups. Somehow I had way too many, some with promotional stuff that I had no interest in. Food is always good, even if it is something that I don't eat myself. With teenagers in the house, food is always good :). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 I agree w/ the food ideas. The pen/pencil idea is also good. Or, you could get little printed notepads or post-it pads w/ a message. Those are consumable too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arghmatey Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 We sometimes give personalized fortune cookies. I make them for our purposes, but here's a link to a company: http://www.fancyfortunecookies.com/Custom_Fortune_Cookies_s/50.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 The ones I've gotten: roll of Lifesavers - thanks, you've been a real Lifesaver bag of nuts - we're nuts about you--thanks for helping out I looooove gardening momma's ideas. They'll come in handy next year when dh asks what he should give his Awana helpers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 I looooove gardening momma's ideas. They'll come in handy next year when dh asks what he should give his Awana helpers. I recommend the book Treat 'Em Right! Tasty ideas for encouraging volunteers by Susan Cutshall. It's where I got the ideas in my earlier post. It has pages that you can copy, with interesting fonts and little pictures or squiggly lines. I will probably make my own with the sayings in the book, with fonts and clip art I prefer, maybe occasionally changing the wording--sometimes it says volunteers, children's ministry team, etc and I can put more accurate words in if I do it myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 I don't know what you could give with this, but I just found this quote: I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks. ~William Shakespeare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cera Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 We have done chocolate bars with custom wrappers (you can find templates online and print them off yourself then replace the wrappers on hershey bars (we bought bulk at Costco). If you have a bit more money you could call local chocolatiers and ask about favor options. We have done little printed boxes of truffles (they are usually $4-5 a box). You could also try to get a donation from a candy or chocolate chop if it is for people volunteering for a 501©(3) (so the company can get a tax write off). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 I recommend the book Treat 'Em Right! Tasty ideas for encouraging volunteers by Susan Cutshall. Thanks for the book recommendation! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaT Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 One volunteer gift that I got 25 years ago and am still using - a coffee mug with two porcupines - one pulling a quill out of another that says "Thanks for giving of yourself." :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2att Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 I bought purse-sized tissue packs at 8 for $1 one year. Printed out and attached a note that said "Bless you for volunteering." Who can't use tissues? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiCO Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 I personally hate nick-nacks, but I do like useful things like fridge magnets and pens. I would also appreciate a high-quality chocolate bar and a note, no matter how small. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Don't know if anyone mentioned this one (and don't feel like reading back through the thread): Small bottle or tube of hand lotion, 2 hands cut from paper (trace a hand--adult or kid size, which ever fits the purpose best), put a note on one hand that says something like..."Thank you for lending a hand"... or ... "Thanks for your helping hands" etc... Tape a hand to each side of the bottle. Just saw another one online: Attach a note to a bottle of lotion that says, "Thanks for a smooth year." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 I like the chocolate ideas myself, even though I can no longer eat regular chocolate myself. You might be able to find some kind of European chocolate cheap at the Commissary, if it's a mostly non-military crowd, they'll be impressed. (If it's for military folks, I wouldn't bother, just go with one of the aforementioned things.) You could also cheaply buy a variety of small individually wrapped chocolates and divide them up and wrap them in bunches in colored saran wrap and tie with a ribbon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted June 14, 2011 Author Share Posted June 14, 2011 So, first volunteer luncheon is today. I went with the hand lotion idea, I made pretty labels that say "thanks for the helping hand!." I really like the idea of practical gifts. I have a lot more of these to get through over the next 2 years or so, I know I'm going to use more of these ideas. Thank you to everyone, I will be referring back to these posts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 So, first volunteer luncheon is today. I went with the hand lotion idea, I made pretty labels that say "thanks for the helping hand!." I really like the idea of practical gifts. I have a lot more of these to get through over the next 2 years or so, I know I'm going to use more of these ideas. Thank you to everyone, I will be referring back to these posts! You could do this with little bottles of hand sanitizer, too. You can often get really good deals on these at Bath and Body Works quite often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted June 14, 2011 Author Share Posted June 14, 2011 You could do this with little bottles of hand sanitizer, too. You can often get really good deals on these at Bath and Body Works quite often. That is a *great* idea! I love the little holders they have for those, they are so colorful. Thanks! Seriously, if anyone else has any ideas, keep them coming! I will more ideas for future use! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Chocolate always works for me! I ususually don't use the typical thin fridge magnets that are handed out with ads, etc, as they don't usually hold up papers. The exceptions are those with phone numbers that I frequently use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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