Keeping Volunteers

It is important that you keep your volunteers happy. One way to help avoid
burnout is to recognize them for what they do. It is essential that your teachers
are recognized who work with the children in your church. Here are some
suggestions that may be helpful to you in this endeavor.

1. Give them a week off once a quarter and use your substitutes to fill in. This
can be done on a rotating basis if you do not want to have a whole Sunday
full of substitutes.
2. Provide them what they need for their classes. This includes paste, new
crayons, water based markers, supplies for crafts, snacks for kids, cups,
napkins, CDs of new music, posters to display.
3. Place a stick note in their room and tell them that you are praying for them
today. Include a smiling face!
4. Designate one Sunday a year with the pastor to acknowledge them up front
in the sanctuary. Allow the children to do some simple songs, readings, and
present them some flowers.
5. Give them a $5.00 - $10.00 gift certificate for the Christian book store.
6. Take them all out to lunch for a staff meeting, and pay for their dinner.
7. Tell them personally how much you appreciate them.
 8. Send them a card in the mail.
9. Have the kids make them a large card and all sign it.
10. Take in something special to eat for staff meetings.
11. Include them in decisions.
12. Communicate with them about upcoming events.
13. Give them plenty of time by being organized with events in advance.
14. Do a Teacher in the Spotlight each month in your newsletter.
15. Give them a job to do, and allow them to be creative.
16. Use them, or you will lose them.
17. Invite them to your home for a lunch or breakfast.
18. Take them out individually for their birthday for lunch.
19. Acknowledge all workers when you have special programs such as
Christmas, Easter, or Thanksgiving in the sanctuary. Remember, you will
need them the next time.
20. Give certificate for those who help in any way during the year. Keep good
records. You will surprise someone for sure.
21. Bring in some donuts on Sunday morning.
22. Show a Power Point to the church of what is going on in the Children’s
department.

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