Amy,
The nicest tea I have ever been to was at my daughter's school when we had moved to our new home and she was there for six weeks. I went to the fire station with the class and was invited to the volunteer tea. The teachers served us coffee and tea, the children sang to us and we received a wonderful pen that simply said THANK YOU! Since then we have moved to a different school and while I have recieved nice tokens of thanks from the school that simple tea will always stay with me....
I guess I'm telling you, keep it simple and don't forget why they are there...to be thanked
This year we decided to have a "picnic". I plan on ordering lunch meat trays and fruit and veggie trays, chips, and drinks. It will be at a picnic shelter with a playground right next to it so the Moms can watch their little ones and gab with the other moms. I don't know it I mentioned on my earlier reply but we also recognize volunteers in front of the whole school at our regular "Success Celebrations".
This year the PTO officers have asked the elementary school staff to join us in thanking the volunteers. We are hosting a breakfast an hour before school. The staff is bringing in hot and cold foods (breakfast casseroles, fruit, baked goods, etc). The PTO purchased seed packets from Positive Promotions, and we are going to attach the packets to a carnation. We'll use the flowers as the table centerpieces, and then give each volunteer one. Good luck!
Last year I made invitations for all the volunteers to come to a luncheon to a local diner, I presented them with volunteer fannie packs which I ordered from Postitive Promotions. I also made them certificates. There were 25-30 volunteers and the whole thing cost less than $200.00. This year I plan to only invite the ones who put in an x amount of time, or just have a potluck.
I would like to find some ideas on volunteer appreciation. Our school usually hosts a "tea" for the volunteers, but this year is the first year I have been in charge of the planning and I'm not sure I want to do it the same way they did it last year. Any ideas or input would be great! Like food suggestions, program suggestions, gift suggestions etc.
Thanks a bunch!
Amy Kirby Beachwood elementary PTA VP
