Hello all! So I am in charge of room mom and volunteer appreciation this year for my children's school. We usually have a light brunch and then hand out a thank you gift. If anyone has any cute ideas of small thank you gifts it would be really great! I am trying to think of handouts that will be meaningful, but not "trinkety" and thrown away the moment they get home. I have a medium sized budget, so I can't spend a ton. Thanks so much for any ideas that you share!
Thanks for all the ideas everyone gave me, I appreciate it! I ended up getting a cute little jar for about .79 cents at Roberts crafts. I then sorted out about 14 Sams Club sized bags of M&M's and layered them by color to look like a rainbow. And then I went to Bath and Body Works when they were introducing a new scent and got the cute little bottles of lotion for $2.00 each. Then I made a little note saying something about every day the volunteered made our day's a little brighter (the rainbow), and that thanks to them our year ran "smoothly" (the lotion). I tied a tag to the lotion and to the jar, and then put them in a really cute polka-dotted bag with the poem. Then I tied the top with some ribbon. I almost lost my mind sorting the thousands of M&M's and filling 100 of the little jars...but it turned out to be really worth it. The volunteers and the teachers really liked the chocolate and the pampering lotion. But, filling a single bigger jar with the M&M's is a really cute teacher gift. Anyway, thanks so much for all of your ideas! I appreciate it!
Mi baby's school sent us a little fabric bag with my baby's photo on one side and a print of his hands on the other. It had some candies inside. I think is is the cutest thing! I love it!
Ok here is something that is fun! Two different ways to do this. First would be the easiest- small clay pot filled with a spring blooming plant- tie a rafia ribbon around the pot and there you go. The second idea would be on the same idea - small clay pot get a plastic bag filled with dirt and a package of floral seeds, wrap it up in clear celo tied off with a rafia bow. This is a gift that keeps giving and everybody loves flowers.. Or you can go www.Marthastewart.com
she always has a tone of inexpensive gift ideas for others.
Hope that helps, C.
Hi Michal,
I was also room Mom and PTA president in past years, I really like the clay pot idea with seeds- instead of the rafia I would look into the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation for ribbon- maybe make a small donation in each of the volunteers names ,or the Juvenile Diabetes, Childrens Hospital or one of those organizations. Pay it forward, keep it going :)
Peace, T.
Although I haven't ever been the official room mom, I volunteer a LOT at my daughter's school (more than 10 hours/week). Personally I like to learn the names and get to know the kids. I would LOVE to have a class picture with all of their names and a short note or picture from any who wanted to write one.
I also like books, fun notepads, pens, etc. (There are never enough pens in our house--even with my private collection.) I like chocolate. One of my teachers gave me a little bottle of lotion at Christmas and I liked that. A packet of seeds would be fun ("Thanks for the seeds of learning you've planted in our minds.") Or maybe a small (4"?) plant--one that is pretty and easy to care for. Heck, I'd even enjoy a big, round yellow helium balloon with a smiley face drawn on it! ("You're the sunshine in our classroom.")
I also found this page with more ideas: http://www.proteacher.net/discussions/showthread.php?t=8939
As a former voluntter myself, the things I enjoyed and kept the most were magnets. One of the most meaningful magnets I received was one that had a poem on it that talked about the importance of volunteers. I also know that a lot of people enjoy bookmarks. I am not sure how limited your income is, but I know that some of the schools have had a lunch for all the voluntters of that year. Usually, this is done at the school. Good luck and I am curious to know what you decide to do.
Here is an ebook full of ideas on how to thank volunteers http://www.volunteerspot.com/ebooks/VolunteerRecognition and they also have an ebook on School Party and Room Mom Ideas www.volunteerspot.com/ebooks/roommom.
If there is anyway you could get down to Lehi, Pioneer Party on Main Street would have everything you would need. They put together gift bags for EVERYTHING! You would find TONS of fun ideas there. You could even call them and ask for a cute saying or gift bag idea. ###-###-#### They can be very inexpensive too. Good luck.
K.
Get them their own hand-carved mahogany boxes with each of their own birthstones inside.Great gift and very thoughtful.Hope this helps!
I may not be too much help, but you can probably get some ideas by going to google and type party favors. I know it's not really party favors you want, but some make pretty good giveaway ideas. That's what I used to get some ideas for my mom's birthday party giveaways. Check some sights out and see what you can come up with. Just a thought, well good luck.
I might have a few Ideas, but I fist need to know what kind of budget that you are on in order to answer your question.
Hi, Michal,
This is something I did for my daughter's teachers this year. I went to the craft store and bought them bracelets and found individualized charms for them that were teacher-oriented: apples, textbooks, little buses, etc. They loved it. Perhaps you can get the bracelets and charms based on the contributions each person made - that way they are individualized and a special token of your appreciation for them. And it wont' break the bank. You can also make them some bath salts pretty inexpensively. Email me if you want the recipe on how to do them.
You can always do that or get them gift cards in small amounts to their favorite stores, if you know what they are - Starbucks cards usually go over very well. Depending on the quantity of people and what your budget is, this could vary though.
Good luck.
Make "Survival Kits" for each volunteer. Get small gift bags and place common items in them. Then, provide a list of what these items mean. i.e. -
2 pennies - to always remember to voice your opinion and put your 2 cents worth in
a nickel of dime - because your thoughts are worth much more than a penny (LOL)
a piece of gum - chew on this when you feel like chewing out your kids. it will give you time to think about what you really want to say.
hershey kisses & hershey hugs - because you are sweet & we love you
a rubber band - to remember to be flexible
some marbles - becuse we know that sometimes you may feel like you are losing yours
a small angel pin - because we couldn't do this without angels like you.
Anyway, you get the idea. You can come up with more I am sure. I have been making these "Survival Kits" for over 30 years and have used them for newlyweds, pregnant mothers, retirees, volunteers, Secretaries, church volunteers, Boy Scout volunteers, and lots more. I know alot of the people I have given them to have kept the little basket or bag with all the items an the list intact. I have gotten many responses from people saying that when they are feeling down, they can look at it all feel appreciated. The angel pin is worn by most - even some of the men that have received them! Hope this helps.
Going on the theme of "helping hands" you could thank them by giving them something for their hands like a small manicure kit, some nice polish, a hand cream or a hand scrub.
Hi!
I am a teacher and I have to say my favorite gifts are picture frames, plants, candles, or things for the bath (the last two don't work very well for male teachers). I have so many things that sit on shelves and about 15 coffee mugs (which hot chocolate came in...I've only been teaching 5 years!) I love hot chocolate, but can't use all the cups....
For a bigger budget, gift cards to Barnes and Noble or the Utah/Idaho Map and Supply Co. (a teacher supply store) are fantastic.
Of course, other teachers like other things too, hopefully they'll answer as well! I wish we had a room mom for my class... ;)
