Its a way to form camaraderie between volunteers, and it also gives them access to you and your employees. Invite your volunteers to join you via videoconferencing with their favorite beverage to spend an hour to check-in. Worked to resolve 153,324 complaints initiated by residents, their families, and other . "Volunteers: You Make A Difference In So Many Ways!" This letter was sent to the local Volunteer Ombudsmen in Prince Georges County, Marylandto show the program's appreciation. During one of our annual events for which his business was a sponsor, we presented him with a mayoral proclamation that gave details about his outstanding service and honored him as a community leader. Volunteer Appreciation: A Guide to Thanking & Recognizing Your Volunteers Please enable JavaScript to use this feature. 2022 National Volunteer Appreciation Week. For example, we need volunteers in education to help students get back on track, and I encourage Americans to support our youth byserving as tutors and mentors or in other critical roles. Board members should also be aware of any stand-out volunteers. The Florida Ombudsman program shared pictures and videos of volunteer appreciation from different districts around the state. Volunteer Recognition Day is observed every year on April 20. -Cheryl Hennen According to a report, 1 in 4 Americans volunteered for one or more causes in 2022 and 1 billion people volunteered worldwide, with the effect of their labor equalling to over 109 million full-time workers. All residents completed a 10-hour training session to become Pennsylvania Empowered Expert Residents (PEER) with the Pennsylvania Department of Aging's Ombudsman Program. The Waccamaw Region of South Carolina sent journals to their volunteers along with other appreciation goodies and a protective facemask compliments of K&K Fashions of Royalty, see photo here. This video was made for the valued volunteersat the San Francisco Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. This was a business leader who had donated above and beyond on all levels: time, talent and treasure for several years. 2020 National Volunteer Appreciation Week. Many people are hesitant to step inside a long-term care setting. We also need to call on that spirit more than ever as wehelp our Nation recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. During COVID-19, volunteers are taking different steps to reach out to residents, facilities, and families. Overall, consider your volunteers as the backbone of the team. We're Psyched to Have You on Our Team . Your advocacy for residents in long-term care facilities is very important and appreciated. Take inspiration from the theme for 2022: Better Together. As you think about recognizing volunteers this year, in particularly, think about leveraging this event to build back momentum. Transportation stipends are perfect for volunteers who travel for your events. We had a keynote speaker and at the end of the event we handed out gifts of a new briefcase for their use with their volunteer position. Email your submissions toombudcenter@theconsumervoice.org. Here are some prompts to get you thinking . The theme for the April 19-25,2020 National Volunteer Week isCelebrate Service. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted everyone but perhaps none more than people who live and work in long-term care and their families and friends. And if they feel valued, theyll continue to show up at the office, at events, at the warehouse, and anywhere else you may need them. Volunteer appreciation month is a month-long celebration in April which aims to celebrate and thank volunteers for the time and hard work that they have put in intending to . MN Volunteers have helped us reach compliance with new Ombudsman Federal Regulation. But if you truly want to keep your volunteers coming back again and again, you must stand out and offer original forms of recognition that other nonprofits do not provide. Volunteer Appreciation Gifts | Positive Promotions 26. Joined by other Ombudsman colleagues from across Maryland and DC, the staff and volunteers were engaged in: Reflect, Reclaim, Recharge: From Collective Trauma to Post-Pandemic Growth NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH -April 2023 - National Today Youll be the cool nonprofit that pays attention to each volunteers strengths, which in turn makes volunteers feel that their efforts are valued. Tobi Johnson & Associates | PO Box 23408, Knoxville, TN 37933-1408 Paulette Anderson has been in the program since 2012. From The American Presidency Project, Proclamation 10370National Volunteer Week, 2022: "People who volunteer develop new skills, build their personal and professional networks, forge a deeper connection with their communities and service organizations, and experience the joy of serving a larger cause. The week of April 15 to 21, National Volunteer Week, is a perfect time to reach out and say thanks for volunteering with your program and making a difference in the lives of the residents. You have JavaScript disabled. We appreciate the 9000+ hours donated to ensure that residents are comfortable in their home, exercise their right to choose, and receive quality care. Encourage volunteers to come to you if they need to. Thank you!" However, some managers really struggle with saying these words. Baltimore County Ombudsman celebrated their volunteers during Volunteer Appreciation Week by recognizing them with a virtual certificate and a specially crafted poem. or mentally counting your blessings once a week has been shown to decrease aggression. What is Volunteer Appreciation Month? Rather, create superlatives for all volunteers and award them individually based on their role within the organization. Bring an expert in and dive into more detail about how important the work theyre doing is. Ask your volunteers to send their favorite picture of themselves, along with a little blurb about why they love volunteering for your nonprofit organization. Is there a minor league baseball team near you? OK, you knew this reason, but that doesnt help you tackle it. If you have many volunteers, you can send out a monthly email featuring a certain number of individuals. The Consumer Voice envisions a world in which all consumers of long-term care, services and supports are treated with respect and dignity and have a wide range of aordable, quality options across all settings. This could take several different forms such as: Providing leadership opportunities. - Jorge Soto, MSW, Managing Local Ombudsman, Area Agency on Aging Rio Grande Council of Government. Volunteer Appreciation Week 2022 Theme - Empathy in Action Try to reach out following a great event, or should your volunteer go the extra mile for your nonprofit. We will post your message on our website and highlight the submissions on our home page.