Volunteer Week Activities

Host a dinner party during Volunteer Week.

Volunteer Week is dedicated to recognizing the millions of volunteers who give time and energy to public service organizations. Volunteer Week helps to recognize the hard work of volunteers in addition to recruiting volunteers and organizing new campaigns. Make Volunteer Week successful in your area by organizing public service activities and events.

Thank You Dinner

Recognize and show appreciation for the hard work that volunteers do by hosting a Thank You dinner. Gather volunteers and other people from your organization in your home or in an events center such as a local church or school. The dinner can be formal or casual and you can choose to have it catered or make it a pot-luck depending on your specific organization and funding. Hosting a dinner makes volunteers feel appreciated and can help to motivate others to volunteer as well.

Volunteer Appreciation Banner

Hang a large banner in a hallway or common area to show appreciation for volunteers. Ask the staff members of your organization and other people who benefit from volunteers, such as patients or children, to write small thank you notes showing their appreciation and gratitude. Hang all the notes on the banner so volunteers can see personal testaments to how their service is affecting others.

Information Booth

Volunteer Week is a time for recruiting volunteers for your organization. Ask several volunteers to set up an informational booth at a local shopping center or other public space. Provide people with information about the benefits and rewards of volunteering. Ask interested people to provide names and phone numbers, so you can contact them about volunteer opportunities.

Clothes Swap

Raise awareness about volunteering by hosting a clothes swap. A clothes swap is where people get together, each bringing a bag of clothes they no longer use and trade garments with one another. Unclaimed clothes are donated to a local charitable organization. Promote the clothes swap event at your local church, school or workplace and use it to recruit volunteers.

References

• National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization: Volunteer Week Activities
• Volunteers´ Week: Not sure what to do for Volunteers´ Week in 2011?

Resources

• National and Community Service: Planning for National Volunteer Week: 20 tips