We have our coupons as I mentioned above. But as far as Free stuff. Volunteer Chairpeople get a book donated to the Library in their name, we do give them lunch as fun fair and field day, their kids go in first at Holiday shop. We have a volunteer tea with cake and beverages every year. On volunteer appreciation week we have goodies set out. But I really think they like the book the best.
We give coupons to our volunteers at each event for FREE food! This really makes it easier to get volunteers! At this year's fall festival, will will give each person who volunteers at least one hour a voucher for a drink and hot dog from our food court.
We do something similiar to tradechi but I call them "bios."
I wanted the PTO to pay for volunteer lunches at school from time to time. I know some schools let their volunteers eat for free. We have to pay $2.25 to eat the school lunch. Here were my ideas:
1. Have the volunteers to keep a card to be punched for every X amount of hours and after they received and X amount of punches they could get a free dinner complinments of the PTO. OR
2. Let a volunteer eat for free if they put in an X amount of hours per month. OR
3. Have a drawing for those with X amount of hours per semester. Maybe draw 5 names out.
The president gave me a very firmitive NO. We are low income and the majority of our volunteers have no public job and barely make ends meet. Their children are on free/reduced lunches so that $2.25 really adds up for them. I want to do whatever I can to improve volunteerism.
I may see if I can get a donation from a local resturaunt for a meal. They deserve it. We have about 10 hard core volunteers this year that are really working their rear ends off. I am so proud! If I were a rich girl I pay for it myself.
We send out volunteer coupon books in the first week of school. It's half page forms with a brief description of each committee on each half page. And a place to put your Name, students's name, phone # what ever is good contact info. Some committees have other stuff like what time of day works best? or can you plan? or just bring goodies?. Anyway parents get these and fill out the ones that interest them. We collect them and get stacks of coupons to the committee chairs. It's very important to call all the volunteers to let them know you heard from them even if you don't use them right away. I spent about an hour a day for a week going through these and now the committees are all staffed. We have some holes, classes without art presenters and stuff but we know that the 3rd week of school and can work it out. Parents know exactly where they stand right from the start and the booklet allows them to lay it all out and pick what works best for them. A very captive audience the beginning of the year and much more efficient than asking at every meeting or in every newsletter. Sorry it's not a free ice cream coupon for every volunteer. Well maybe some schools.
What a totally cool idea!!!! I wonder if it would be to a local restaurant, or for free babysitting, things like that. I am dying to know!!! I can't wait to hear the ideas on this one.
