Millions and Millions of Volunteers!

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 63 million Americans volunteered with some sort of organization in 2015, churches being number one on the list. I don't know about you, but I'm not aware of anyone from BLS having ever contacted my church about the number of volunteers - so my guess is the number is actually higher.

That said, the BLS figure represents a little more than a quarter of the U.S. population. Those are a lot of volunteers! People who donate their time and talents are the lifeblood of churches and service organizations. Without them, many ministries, programs and projects simply would not be possible. Without volunteers, how different would your church or organization be?

Most people who volunteer do it because they care. They're not looking for anything in return. They're not expecting elaborate praise. Still, it's important that volunteers know their efforts are appreciated. Acknowledgement of service makes people feel more connected to whatever it is they're doing, and increases the likelihood that they'll continue their involvement.

It's great to recognize service when a person is stepping down from a position - but what about providing encouragement along the way? There are extraordinary efforts going on around us every day.

If you'd like to convey thanks to your volunteers with something tangible, The Christian Gift's collection of personalized service appreciation plaques was created for just that purpose. They can be customized for virtually any job function or situation.