If you’ve been blessed with a faithful team of volunteers, you’ve got a great advantage over many struggling ministries. You may have noticed that fall and winter are some of the busiest times in you kids ministry, not just for you but for volunteers too. While you’re planning fall events and a Christmas party, don’t neglect planning fall and winter volunteer appreciation events and ideas. Praise and recognition go a long way towards saying thank you.
Volunteer Gift Ideas
- Ministry logo t-shirts or polo shirts
- Starbucks beverage cards
- Lanyards and ID cards
- Leadership books
- Slippers
- Seasonal socks
- Sets of antibacterial soap and hand lotions
- Christian magazine subscriptions
- Journals
- Personalized magnets
- Easy meal baskets
- Photo albums
- Giant chocolate bars
Gifts to Make
- Teaching kits: Assemble teaching kits in cellophane bags. You could include a Bible coloring book, box of crayons, a notebook, gel pens and smiley face stickers
- Fall pumpkin pails: Buy happy jack o’lantern pails and fill them with cool things like fall bean bags, small games like checkers and plenty of fall candy.
- Winter clipboards: I love clipboards and so do volunteers! Use a metallic sharpie to write your volunteer’s name on a clear clipboard.
- Mason jars of candy: I always have Mason jars on hand. Fill these jars with wrapped candies and top them with a fabric covered lid.
Volunteer Events
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Ready-to-print lessons from our 2027 series: four for kids ages 6–12, six for preschool ages 3–5. Read it through once and teach this Sunday. Free checkout, the download comes by email.
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- Fall bonfire
- Pumpkin patch or a corn maze
- Tree lighting in the town square
- Decorating the kids church
- Walking leaf tours
- Holiday dinner out
- Go see the Nutcracker together
- Trips to the park to hear the symphony
- Appreciation banquet
- Potluck from the staff
- Matinee movies
A timely gesture of appreciation can fuel your ministry with excited volunteers year round. Take the time to say thank you personally and be sincere. Without these important workers, where would we be?
Read more from Mimi on her blog Tools for Kids Church.
New Sunday School Curriculum: Our Bible lessons are designed to keep the kids’ attention and show how God's Word makes a difference. Every series is flexible enough for a wide-age group and affordable enough for small churches. Download a free Bible lesson in pdf or view our latest Sunday School curriculum for small churches.
