Celebrated annually on the fourth Saturday in October, National Make a Difference Day
is a day of service around the country. In fact, it’s the nation’s largest day of volunteering! The vast size of National Make a Difference Day means it’s very likely there’s a volunteer project in your community waiting for you to join!
If you’re organizing the volunteer projects, you want to make sure your volunteers have a positive experience. National Make a Difference Day is a great opportunity to recruit new volunteers for your organization and earn ongoing commitment from participants. A key strategy to volunteer recruitment and retention is making them feel appreciated. Here are a few approaches to volunteer appreciation
that will ensure National Make a Difference Day is memorable for your participants.
1. Pass Out Volunteer T-Shirts
Ask for volunteers’ t-shirt sizes when they register for your project, and give each person a volunteer t-shirt
to wear on National Make a Difference Day. Who wouldn't love one of our awesome Smart Sayings t-shirts? Make sure your logo is incorporated into the t-shirt design so participants have a lasting reminder of the event and your organization.
2. Start the Day with Making the Difference Water Bottles
Before volunteers get started for the day, prepare them for all their hard work by passing out water bottles
. It’s important that volunteers have a safe and healthy day, so make sure there are a few locations where they can get water. The water bottle serves as both a useful tool for the day and a thank you gift!
3. Give Volunteers Gifts of Appreciation
End the day with a volunteer appreciation gift for every participant. You can choose from many affordable gifts in Baudville’s Making the Difference themes
such as a Character Pin, journal, or tote bag.
4. Present Certificates of Participation
Thank volunteers for participating on National Make a Difference Day by presenting each individual with a certificate of appreciation. Certificates are low-cost awards that can easily be personalized with each recipient’s name and your organization’s logo. Choose a certificate design
with a title that says “you make the difference” or “certificate of recognition” and write your own award verse that speaks to the volunteer project.
5. Mail Thank You Notes to Volunteers
To really make a positive impression on employees, mail a thank you note
to their home after National Make a Difference Day. In your note, thank them for giving their Saturday to your project and invite them to participate again. Include contact information or a business card of a volunteer coordinator so they can sign up for the next event!