• A Round To-it – To inspire you so you can get the little things done in your job.
• Ball – You’re a ball to work with OR Thanks for bouncing with the new changes!
• Balloon – Thanks for helping us soar to new heights! OR Thanks for breathing new life into the situation! OR Thanks for helping us expand and grow! OR Thanks for helping our youth reach new heights!
• Bandage – To guard you against negative people OR Thanks for coming to our aid OR Thanks for covering us in a difficult situation.
• Book – You’re number one in our book.
• Cake or Cupcakes – You take the cake as an outstanding volunteer.
• Candle, Match, Star or Light Bulb – No one can hold a candle to you! OR Thanks for creating a spark in our organization! OR You shed a bright light on the situation! OR Thanks for lighting the way to success! OR Thanks for burning the candle at both ends to help our project succeed! OR You help our organization shine bright! OR You light a fire within our organization.
• Coin – Thanks for your “good cents”! OR A Penny for your thoughts! Or Thanks for changing our paradigm (two dimes) OR You Make Things Shine!
• Electrical wire or a battery – Thanks for energizing our organization.
• Fortune Cookie – We are so fortunate to have you as a volunteer. OR Your contributions are worth a “fortune.” OR Thanks to you, we are “predicting a prosperous future!”
• Glove – Thanks for lending a head. OR I’ve got to hand it to you – you are terrific! OR Give me a high 5 – you’re great! OR Give yourself a warm round of applause for the great job you do! OR Thanks for getting a “HANDle” on the project.
• Gum – Thanks for sticking with us and making such a difference.
• Heart – Thanks for caring and giving more than you ever receive.
• Boxes of juice – Your creative juices have really made a difference.
• Kite String – You can soar to whatever heights you choose.
• Lollipop – Thanks for you help in licking challenges.
• M & M’s – Thanks! You are made a Marvelously, Moving difference in our program.
• Book of Matches – No one matches your volunteer contributions!!!!
• Mint – You’re worth a mint! OR Thanks for your CommitMINT!
• 100 Grand Bar – You’re worth a 100 Grand to our organization.
• Paperclip – Thanks for holding our program together.
• Post It Notes – Thanks for sticking with us and making such a difference in the lives of young people.
• Raisins – Thanks for raisin’ us to a new level through your volunteer efforts.
• Rubberband – Thanks for stretching your limits, your patience, your flexibility and your endurance.
• Safety Pin – Thanks for holding things together when they would have otherwise fallen apart.
• Seeds OR Plants – Thanks for all the great ideas that you have planted to grow and bloom. OR Thanks for helping us grow! OR We’re glad to be “growing together.” OR Good things grow when volunteers are involved. OR You have grown and blossomed as a volunteer!
• Shoelaces – Thanks for your ties to our program.
• Smiley Face – Smile at people when they would have otherwise fallen apart.
• Sunglasses – Thanks for helping us see this project through to a successful end.
• Tape Measure or Ruler – You measure up as a fantastic leader.
• Toothpick – To prop open your eyes on the 7th night meeting this week.
• Warm Fuzzy – Represents all the people you have touched and all the people who have touched you.

Some of the ideas were adapted from Recognition Boosters, Pat Fultz, Kansas State University

• In volunteer work the dividends are always greater than the investment.
• For returns far in excess of the initial investment, volunteer.
• Among volunteers, there are no ordinary people. Count yourself in.
• You are never too young or too old to volunteer.
• Do something wholesome for the family: Volunteer!
• Tired of the same old thing? Volunteer.
• Go on… Spoil yourself. Volunteer.
• If you think this is easy, try volunteering.
• Volunteering isn't only about giving. He who gives, gets!
• Voluntary service -- the one human endeavor in which men and women of all races, nationalities, backgrounds and languages unite as a single force in pursuit of a single goal: Helping others help themselves.
• Feel left out? Include yourself in. Volunteer.
• Catalysts promote change. Volunteers work for change.
• Volunteers have their work cut out for them.
• Volunteers are the "We" generation.
• Among the in-crowd, volunteering has always been the thing to do.
• Lend a hand. Volunteer.
• Caution. Volunteers at work.
• Volunteers get involved.
• Volunteering: there's more to it than meets the eye.
• Volunteering -- the shape of things to come.
• Volunteers go where angels tread.
• Volunteers set off a chain reaction.
• Minding other people's business.
• Volunteers can turn any neighborhood watch into a block party.
• Charity inspires the volunteer. Solidarity is the reward.
• It's really all about time & talent -- volunteer!
• Many hands make light work.