Keeping Your Volunteers

Now is the time when we begin to lose our enthusiasm for helping as the holidays approach and sicknesses increase. However, the needs at school do not diminish. It is more important than ever to take the time to acknowledge your volunteers. Thank them personally, face-to-face, email, or best of all, a hand-written note. Letting them know that the event could not have taken place without their help makes them feel worthwhile; that the time they could have used to do chores at home or run needed errands, was not wasted.

Be sure that when you are scheduling your volunteers that you are careful to include how much time they will need to give to the project. If you don’t know, say so up front. Be flexible with your schedule. If no one can help for three hours, maybe three people can help for an hour each.

Be fun.  Even the tedious events the adults don’t like can be fun if you laugh. There have been events where people came and hung out or stayed past their shift because there was a great conversation going on.

Keep a smile and a positive attitude and you will keep your volunteers.

by Cari Manry, ACPTA Vice President