Unison Blog

Holiday food bank volunteer giving out a food box

7 Ways to Show Volunteer Appreciation After the Holidays

Here are seven heartfelt, impactful, and truly memorable ways to show volunteer appreciation after the holidays— plus how Unison can help you stay organized and connected with the teams who make parish life possible.

Volunteer Management & Scheduling

How St. Vincent DePaul Saved 15 Hours a Week using Unison for All Volunteer Signups

This Missouri parish uses Unison to schedule volunteers for recurring outreach like the nightly Meals Program and weekly Senior Bingo, plus special events like TurkeyFest and the Golf Outing—saving up to 15 hours each week while keeping service at the center.

Faith & Church Engagement

Make Church Christmas Decorations That Feel Sacred, Not Showy

Church Christmas decorations are a visible form of worship. A way to prepare the space for the mystery of Christ’s birth. The goal isn’t to dazzle. It’s to create an atmosphere where prayer feels natural and joy feels near.

Faith & Church Engagement

The Spirit Behind Every Christmas Church Bazaar or Holiday Market

Bazaars often raise funds for outreach programs or youth ministry, but their real value lies in renewal. They remind the parish what it means to be together before the rush of Christmas Eve services.

Event Fundraising & Planning

How to Host Advent Wreath Workshops, Fundraisers & Family Events — With Free Unison Signups

The Advent Wreath isn’t only a symbol in the sanctuary. It comes to life in parish halls, school gyms, and even kitchen tables. Creating, decorating, selling, or distributing wreaths has become one of the most joyful ways churches build community during the Advent season. If your church, school, or

Faith & Church Engagement

10 Volunteer Opportunities Every Parish Can Add to Unison

A Directory Page in Unison makes it easy to bring every ministry and signup together in one place. But where should you start? Here’s a list of the most common (and most loved) volunteer opportunities across parishes — complete with short descriptions you can copy straight into Unison. Use this

Volunteer Management & Scheduling

Bring Every Volunteer Signup Together: Why Your Church Needs a Directory Page in Unison

Does this sound familiar? You’ve got one volunteer signup in a spreadsheet. Another on SignUpGenius. A few lists buried in emails or on clipboards at church. Soon the questions start coming: Who’s leading the Fish Fry this year? Where do I sign up for the Giving Tree? Is

Volunteers in Action

How a Laundry Ministry Brings Dignity and Hope to Key West: Loads of Love

Discover how volunteers at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Key West, Florida, bring hope and dignity through Loads of Love, a laundry ministry that pays for neighbors’ wash cycles after hurricanes, hardships, and everyday challenges.

Volunteer Management & Scheduling

The Complete Guide to Volunteer Scheduling Software in 2026

If you’re running a nonprofit, church, or school, chances are you’ve felt the headache of juggling schedules, last-minute cancellations, and endless spreadsheets. Volunteer scheduling software solves that problem by helping you organize shifts, send reminders, and keep your community engaged.

Faith & Church Engagement

How to Create a Christmas Nativity Scene That Inspires Wonder

Every year, churches and families around the world recreate the scene that changed everything: a manger, a mother, a newborn child, and the light of heaven breaking into an ordinary night. The Christmas Nativity scene is more than décor. It’s devotion.

News

The Next Chapter in Volunteer Scheduling: A Conversation with Krista Kutz

Discover how Ministry Scheduler Pro (MSP) is inspiring the future of volunteer scheduling. Krista Kutz shares how MSP’s trusted legacy is evolving with Unison to make organizing every kind of volunteer opportunity easier than ever.

Volunteers in Action

Joy takes root when you serve: Land to Hand MT

Volunteers who love food have no trouble digging into Land to Hand’s mission: building a just, local food system where everyone can access—and share—fresh, healthy food.

Faith & Church Engagement

How to Plan a Church Christmas Pageant Everyone Will Remember

Here’s how to plan The Best Church Christmas Pageant Ever that runs on faith and good logistics.

Volunteer Management & Scheduling

From Sanctuary to Social Hall: Why MSP Users Need Unison

Unison isn’t about replacing what works. It’s about expanding what’s possible. MSP makes scheduling ministries simple; Unison makes every act of service manageable.

Faith & Church Engagement

How to Plan a Fish Fry: A Parish Guide to a Lenten Tradition

Often serving as both a fundraiser and a time of connection, the Fish Fry embodies what Lent is all about: faith, generosity, and community.

Event Fundraising & Planning Featured

Your 2025 Holiday Volunteer Event Checklist

The holidays are a time for giving—and few things capture the season’s spirit like volunteering. Whether you’re organizing a toy drive, community meal, or donation drive, a well-planned event can unite your team and make a real impact.

Chief Bryan Watt of the Forest Grove Volunteer Fire Department

Volunteers in Action

Answering Every Call: Forest Grove Volunteer Fire Department

Chief Bryan Watt is a third-generation volunteer firefighter. Over the past 22 years, firefighting has become his second full-time job, alongside his work in construction and raising a toddler who already loves fire trucks!